While Kongo does think that the title shot is long overdue, one thing he is ready for is to change history at Bellator 226.
“Oh for sure (it was long overdue), but that’s what it is. I like to think of this as another fight, not like a title shot...but another fight. I don’t pay attention, I don’t want to think about that...not to put more pressure on myself. I used to do request to have the ability to fight for the title months ago, I have to be ready...I have to face that issue. I have to be that person that can go in there and change the mood, change Bellator history and that’s what I’m set for,” Kongo said in an exclusive interview with Harry Kettle of Fightful.
Kongo’s previous shot at the Bellator Heavyweight Title came at Bellator 115 in April of 2014, a bout that saw then champion Vitaly Minakov score a unanimous decision win.
The challenger knows that Bader has a good wrestling game, but Kongo plans to win every situation so he can win the fight.
“The best part of his game is the wrestling, he has really good control on the ground. That’s what he is going to try to do, my point in to not just be surviving...but winning every situation. As long as I am winning every situation, I should win the fight,” says Kongo.
Bellator 226 takes place on Saturday, September 7 from the SAP Center in San Jose, California with Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on DAZN.
