Heavyweights Cheick Kongo (16-6-2 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC) and Matt Mitrione (5-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) have agreed to meet at UFC 137 in October.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the bout with event sources, who said a Mitrione vs. Dave Herman bout also was considered. ESPN.com first reported the Kongo-Mitrione matchup.
UFC 137 takes place Oct. 29 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
The night's main card, including a Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz welterweight-championship headliner, airs on pay-per-view. Kongo vs. Mitrione likely will be part of the broadcast.
Kongo fights for the first time his stunning victory over Mitrione's teammate, Pat Barry, at UFC on Versus 4 back in June. Barry battered Kongo and nearly forced a TKO stoppage on multiple occasions, but the still-dazed Frenchman somehow connected with two stiff rights that dropped Barry and forced a first-round stoppage.
Since back-to-back losses to now-champ Cain Velasquez and ex-titleholder Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo is undefeated in his past three fights with an additional submission victory (due to strikes) over Paul Buentello and a draw with Travis Browne.
Mitrione, meanwhile, looks to continue his momentum since his semifinal finish on "The Ultimate Fighter 10." The Duke Roufus-trained fighter and NFL vet recently scored a vicious second-round knockout of hard-hitting Christian Morecraft at UFC on Versus 4 for his fifth victory in five fights, all of which have come in the UFC. Only one of the fights ended in a manner other than knockout.
Source: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione targeted for UFC 137 in Las Vegas