Cheick Kongo Targeting June Return From Back Surgery

UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo is still recovering from December back surgery with the hope of returning around June, a source close to the fighter tells MMA Fighting.

The 35-year-old Kongo (15-6-2) had suffered through back problems for several months, even canceling a scheduled UFC 116 bout with Roy Nelson before taking an October UFC 120 fight with Travis Browne that ended in a draw.

Afterward, the popular French heavyweight tried rehabilitation in hopes of avoiding surgery, but he underwent a procedure in early December and has been working on strengthening his back since.

The timeline of a June return could work perfectly for the UFC, which is looking for an opponent for Shane Carwin.

Ironically, Carwin is also coming off back surgery. He's already accepted a place on June's UFC 131 event in Vancouver, though his opponent is to be determined.

A Carwin-Kongo match has been rumored by some, but as of now, the UFC has not spoken to either side about a potential matchup, according to sources.


Source: mmafighting.com

Shane Carwin Hopes to Train with Fedor Emelianenko in Russia

As expected, Shane Carwin was tickled pink when Fedor Emelianenko specifically named him as someone he'd allow into his exclusive inner circle. The former UFC interim heavyweight champ was so flattered by the Evite, he’s hoping to make a trip to Russia in order to tango with “The Last Emperor.”

Carwin has honed his skills at the talented Grudge Training Center in Colorado for quite some time, but said he intends to dip his toes in multiple pools for his comeback fight. Although he owns a nearly perfect 12-1 MMA record, while posting devastating finishes in each of his wins, a trip across the globe could be worth its weight in Octagon gold for the humble slugger.

“I would be [honored] to train with Fedor. After seeing his CBS special I was impressed with the isolation and hardcore and yet raw training I saw,” Carwin posted on The Underground Forums. “Fedor has been a good guy to me. After the Lesnar fight he sent me some very kind words that put things into perspective. He is a great guy and a great fighter.

“I am going to be [traveling] for training this time around. I want to take in as much MMA as I can. I hope to make it out to Duke Rufus’s and maybe even a trip to Russia if all things go as planned.”

FYI – Rufus helped WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis author his ‘Showtime Kick‘, which earned the Milwaukee-based fighter ESPN's Top 8 Play of 2010. However, don’t expect the 265-pounder to be bouncing off any fences anytime soon.

Carwin hasn’t been seen since getting submitted by Brock Lesnar at UFC 116 this past July. The daytime engineer pulled out of his UFC 125 scrap against Roy Nelson to have his back operated on. The 36-year-old posted on his official blog he’ll make his return at UFC 131 in June against a yet-to-be named opponent.

If Emelianenko is able to advance past Antonio Silva in the quarterfinals of Strikeforce’s Grand Prix on February 12th, it could pave the way for a serious springtime sparring session in Ivan Drago’s backyard.

Source: 5thround.com