UFC 99: Cain Velasquez takes on Cheik Kongo

UFC heavyweight Cheik Kongo has stepped up to replace the injured Heath Herring against Cain Velasquez at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany on June 13. Velasquez is the hot prospect in the UFC now, and is currently 5-0.

Kongo is hot off the heels of a TKO victory over Dutch kickboxer Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97, giving Haronk his first and only TKO loss. The win was Kongo’s fifth in his last six bouts, with his lone defeat coming ironically at the hands of the man he replaced, Heath Herring.

Velasquez most recently put the boots to Denis Stojnic at UFC fight night 17, taking him out by TKO. Velasquez is part of the new breed of ultra big, ultra fast, ultra athletic heavyweights. Think Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley. This will be Cain’s biggest test, and Kongo’s biggest test in quite some time.

Seems to me like they’re grooming Velasquez for bigger and better things, as Herring is pretty much a gate keeper into the top of the division. The UFC tried to build up Herring, but he has consistently come up short against the top dogs, with a 2-3 record inside the UFC. Wrestlers also appear to be his kryptonite, as he couldn’t stuff a take down if his ever lovin’ life depended on it.

Enter Velasquez, a mountain of muscle who happens to be an NCAA wrestler, who has learned to strike very, very effectively. Should his stand-up not do the trick against Herring, his wrestling certainly will. Herring’s five fights have all gone to decision, but barring a lucky punch, this one is ending before then, in favor of Velasquez.