Cheick Kongo issues statement on potential to resign with UFC

According to Cheick Kongo, anything still could happen.

The heavyweight is just a week removed from a UFC 159 knockout loss to Roy Nelson, but took to his Facebook page to tell fans the UFC didn’t let him go – and he still may wind up fighting for the world’s biggest promotion.

Earlier this week, word came that Kongo (18-8-2 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) had finished his contract with the UFC with the loss to Nelson (19-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC), and a UFC official told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the fighter was not likely to be re-signed by the promotion.

Kongo started his UFC career in 2006 and won seven of his first nine fights in the organization. But since then, he has gone just 4-4-1, including Saturday’s first-round starching at the hands of Nelson at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. He did, however, have a 4-1-1 run before the loss to Nelson.

But he said on his official Facebook page that with his deal up, it’s merely a matter of figuring out what his next step will be.

“Do not believe everything you are told,” Kongo wrote in his native French. “I’m in the best position to know about my career in the UFC. And do not worry. For now, know that I have not dismissed the UFC and I’m on good terms with the American organization. I’m out of contract, as I’ve been before. … So I say to you, unless proved otherwise, I’m still a UFC fighter. Take care of yourself.

“Don’t believe he said-she said stories. I have not been cut by the UFC. I am Cheick Kongo so I know best what’s next for me. It doesn’t mean that I am leaving the UFC, it doesn’t mean that I am staying – it means this is my life.”

So Kongo, at least, appears to be open to the possibility of renewing his contract with the UFC. Whether the UFC is willing to keep him in the fold remains to be seen, and did not appear likely earlier this week. Though his salary for his past three fights has not been revealed, for his UFC 137 win over Matt Mitrione, Kongo made $140,000, including a $70,000 win bonus.

For complete coverage of UFC 159, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.