Bellator 265: Sanford Pentagon; Sioux Falls, South Dakota:
When two heavyweight sluggers that have a combined 62-wins with 35-knock outs, of course it ends on the mat. The third ranked French heavyweight, Cheick Kongo gets his fourth submission win, just as the second round was ending.
Kongo, who came into the battle with Sergei Kharitonov on a one-fight losing streak. The 40-year old Russian was on a one-fight win streak in MMA, after doing some boxing in his native Russia. The 46-year old Kongo had an advantage not seen a lot of the time, a nine-inch reach advantage.
For whatever reason though, Kongo was on his heels keeping his back along the fence line; which plays into Kharitonov’s dangerous power. Both fighters popped each other, but it was Kharitonov being more active early. And it was a straight left jab that for a second put Kongo on the mat.
Totally feeling the moment Kharitonov continued to connect with it in the second round, as he stalked Kongo. Then Kongo landed a stiff right and some nice clinch work that rocked Kharitonov, as he also secured a takedown. On the ground, Kongo landed ground and pound. Then gaining his back he locked in a rear-naked-choke with time running out, making Kharitonov tap.
? @Kongo4real beats the bell and makes Sergei Kharitonov tap before the end of the 2️⃣nd round!#Bellator265 pic.twitter.com/PnU04aeLUz
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 21, 2021
With the win coming like that at officially 4:59 of round two; not only was it Kongo’s fourth submission win, but it was also the fourth time Kharitonov was submitted. The big come back for Kongo was impressive as it had looked like he just wasn’t in the cage mentally.
Kongo Gets Fourth Submission
An absolutely exhausted Kongo stayed on the mat for a few minutes before getting back to his feet. It now puts him completely back in the conversation about the strap. With Ryan Bader still in the light-heavyweight tournament, it most likely sets up a defense of the interim strap for another Russian, Valentin Moldavsky. With that winner then facing Bader.
