Cheick Kongo sends ominous threat to Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader

Cheick Kongo is now the number-one contender in the Bellator heavyweight division. The hulking Frenchman earned that honor with a workmanlike defeat of the formerly undefeated former champ Vitaly Minakov at Bellator 216 on Saturday night.

Cheick Kongo has been chasing a Bellator heavyweight title shot for years, and can now look forward to a fight with reigning champion Ryan Bader. That said, he believes it would be more straightforward for Bader to just give him the belt — and he promises trouble if the champ doesn’t oblige.

“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.”

Cheick Kongo has been fighting for Bellator since late 2013. Since he joined the promotion, he’s gone 12-2, defeating names like Mark Godbeer, Alexander Volkov, Tony Johnson, Oli Thompson, Augusto Sakai, Javy Ayala, Tim Johnson and now Minakov, and losing only to Minakov and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. At 43 years old, he’s 30-10-2 overall.

Do you think Cheick Kongo can defeat Ryan Bader to win the Bellator heavyweight title?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/17/2019.