On April 4, 2014, the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada, will be the site for the next installment of world-class MMA as Bellator will be in town hosting a new fight card. Amongst the many battles scheduled for the hefty promotion is a heavyweight title tilt as Vitaly Minakov (13-0-0) will defend his Bellator championship against Cheick Kongo (20-8-0). The bout is set for five rounds and will be televised on the Spike Television network.
Minakov is a 6’2”, 265 lb. Russian making his fifth appearance in a Bellator cage. In his first four fights for the promotional outfit, Minakov ended things via technical knockout. He fought a total of seven rounds and showed devastating force in each fight. The champion is a mutilating leg striker with an aggressive action style that overwhelms the opposition. Once his prey is hurt, Minakov is a lights-out finisher: 12 of his 13 fights have concluded via knockout or submission. Only one previous opponent has survived to hear the final bell toll. Against Kongo, Minakov will be in with an experienced and dangerous veteran of the sport.
Cheick Kongo is 10 years senior of the Russian and will need to use all of his veteran’s craftiness in searching for the upset. Kongo is a product of the famed Wolfslair MMA Academy, owned by MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. A mixed martial artist specialist with an extensive background in kickboxing, Kongo spent seven years competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship program until his exited the UFC in the early part of 2013. The Frenchman made his Bellator debut in October 2013, winning by technical knockout. He fought again in December, claiming a decision victory and earning his shot at Minkov.
The fight itself is a classic clash of experience versus vigor, brute strength against tactical maneuverability, and the always-interesting old lion in competition against the young nomad looking to cement himself as the alpha male. For Kongo, a defeat would likely be his swansong as the veteran came to Bellator looking for traction in an already faded career.
