Cheick Kongo will appear under the Bellator MMA banner for the 13th time when he meets Timothy Johnson at Bellator 208 on Saturday in Uniondale, New York. A semifinal showdown between Chael Sonnen and Fedor Emelianenko in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix serves as the event headliner. Despite having a 10-2 record inside the promotion, Kongo was not chosen as one of the eight entrants for the tournament and had to compete as an alternate. His exclusion serves as a source of frustration.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran was on a five-fight winning streak when the bracket was put together.