When Cheick Kongo handed former Bellator champ Vitaly Minakov his first loss on the main card of Bellator 216 on Saturday night, he earned himself a shot a reigning Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader.
He did not hesitate to call Bader out at the Bellator 216 post-fight press conference.
“I had a great performance and I just beat the undefeated (former) champion, Vitaly Minakov,” he said after the fight (via MMAjunkie). “So the question is: Where’s my belt? Somebody used to hold my belt. The belt wasn’t made with heavyweights, but just light heavyweights.
“So I want to say something clear: Ryan, wherever you are, just come to give me the belt so I can make it easy for you. If not, I will f*** you up,” Kongo continued.
“I’m just a little bit tired and just frustrated. Today, (Bellator President Scott Coker) is (saying I’m the No. 1 contender). But four years ago, when I used to perform at the same time, I didn’t get the time so the title needs to be vacant. And Bader, just come, please, or I will f*** you up for real.”
It did not take long for Ryan Bader, who also owns the Bellator light heavyweight strap, to respond to these comments from Cheick Kongo.
“Hey congrats @kongo4real but you talk like that after that performance?” Bader wrote on Twitter. “There is a reason you weren’t invited into the Heavyweight Grand Prix, what’s that tell you??? I’ll let YOU know what title I decide to defend. Until then, excuse my FRENCH & f*ck off”
From there, Cheick Kongo offered some return fire:
“This belt ain’t yours & you know it,” Kongo said. “Good for you if the Bellator gave it to you. Do I need to remind you who I just beat? Guess what, I’m coming for what I EARNED & DESERVE. Fight like the HW Champion you wanna be or leave it to whom it belongs. Et va te faire foutre au passage.”
For those that don’t speak French: that last sentence is not particularly kind.
Who do you think would win a fight between Cheick Kongo and Ryan Bader?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/17/2019.