Cheick Kongo wants to run it back.
The seasoned heavyweight wants a rematch with two-division Bellator champion Ryan Bader. The two fought last September in the main event of Bellator 226. It was a Bader’s first heavyweight title defense.
Despite retaining his belt, Bader didn’t walk away with a win that night in San Jose, Calif. The bout with Kongo (30-10-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke from Bader (27-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA). It was a controversial moment as Bader claimed he didn’t actually poke Kongo in the eye.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, Kongo said he did get eye poked and is surprised Bellator didn’t give him an immediate rematch, with Bader later being booked to defend his light heavyweight title, which was then cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.
“I didn’t get the chance to talk about it, to explain myself, and I got discredit for that,” Kongo told MMA Junkie. “Just two weeks before that in the UFC, a fight (Yair Rodriguez vs. Jeremy Stephens) ended with poked eyes, and those guys did the rematch. But for my case, it was just like, ‘No, we don’t want to do this,’ but that’s just politics. I fought as a man. I don’t fight and make excuses or anything like that.”
Kongo said the eye poke was bad, that it was like looking through broken glass, having multiple visions on one target. The French fighter also said it was very painful, and he’s surprised the bout ended in a no contest rather than a disqualification for Bader.
Kongo thinks the eye poke came out of frustration from the champion.
“He was just exhausted, exhausted because he couldn’t land the right shot and hit me properly,” Kongo explained. “That’s the reason he poked me. No matter what, he wants someone else, whatever. But that’s pretty sad because he’s someone who claims, ‘I’m the best in the category,’ and for the sport we need somebody that can hold those titles, but he’s fake. He’s fake.
“I could say something bad, bad and talk sh*t like everyone, but it’s not my thing. For what it is, it’s a business. It’s not personal, because if it’s personal, I can get really bad. And just the way I used to push him at the weigh-in because he touch me with his hat, like, ‘What are you trying to do?’ And of course, people don’t see that on camera because it’s quick, but that’s what he did.
“At the end of the day, I’m not here to get bullied by anyone. We’re here to fight, so we’re going to fight. If you want to use some sh*t on me, OK, but make sure you’re able to respond to my actions, because I’m not fake. If you want to fight, I’m here, but he’s a big coward.”
Entering Bellator 226, Kongo was on an eight-fight winning streak with his last defeat coming in 2015. He turns 45 later this month and said he feels strong and still has plenty of fuel left.
Not thinking about retirement and having recently signed a new multi-fight deal with Bellator, Kongo wants the rematch with Bader, but he’s willing to fight another opponent if he’s not given the bout with the champion.
“The rematch is good,” Kongo said. “I don’t fight like some guys just to get the cash, and that’s it. I improve myself all the time to make sure I’m the right contender, the right figure to perform, and no matter what I want it (the rematch).
“I waited five years. I didn’t think it would take five years to be able to fight (for the title). Even in the UFC, you never saw anyone waiting five years and being the best. Some guys fight like six months and fight at least for an interim belt, and even that, I didn’t get the chance to do it. But I’m here for that, and I can’t wait to get back.”
Cheick Kongo wants rematch with 'big coward' Ryan Bader, sounds off on controversial no contest