UFC 4 on Versus: Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo official

April 21, 2011 by keith.mma in Events, Featured, News, UFC with 0 Comments

(Photo Courtesy of 4.bp.blogspot.com)

In what will serve as the co-main event for UFC on Versus 4, Pat “HD” Barry (6-2-0) will be taking on Cheick Congo (15-6-2), as reported by MMAJunkie.com. The match does hold some significance, as the heavyweight division seems to be the UFC’s thinnest division (in terms of fighters).

Barry most recently recorded a unanimous decision win over the tough brawling Joey Beltran at UFC Fight Night 23. Although victorious, Barry caught some heat for his inability to finish a Beltran who could barely walk (Barry punished Beltran for three rounds with vicious leg kicks). Barry seemed to let up in the third, while Beltran kept pushing forward until his leg finally gave out in the closing seconds of the fight.

Kong last fought in October of 2010. His fight with Travis Browne went to the judges’ scorecards, where both fighters walked away with a draw. The fight was controversial on two fronts; the first being Kongo was deducted a point for grabbing Browne’s shorts, something he did often, the second reason being that Kongo also blasted Browne in the groin region with some hard shots. In all truth, Kongo might have deserved another point deduction for that as well.

Neither fighter has truly done much in the UFC to differentiate themselves from the herd. Kongo has beaten mediocre competition, but has lost to the likes of Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. While Berry has lost to a way past his prime Mirko Crocop, and journeymen fighter Tim Hague.

The fight itself could be entertaining if both strikers decide to keep the bout standing. However, as shown in his fight with Browne, Kongo has no reservations of taking a fighter down if he is getting bested on his feet. If anything, the match is extremely interesting.

The televised portion of UFC on Versus 4 is looking to be the following: