An interesting twist has surfaced in the UFC's relationship with Cheick Kongo. Speaking to MMAFighting, Kongo's manager, Anthony McGann, revealed that the UFC offered the fighter a four fight contract extension shortly before UFC 159. It was an offer that Kongo ultimately turned down.

According to Kongo's long-time manager Anthony McGann, Kongo was offered a four-fight deal before the Nelson fight, but he turned it down after they couldn't agree on terms. He was not offered a different deal after the fight.

Following his loss to Roy Nelson by 1st round knockout the UFC has released this statement to MMAjunkie regarding Cheick Kongo's present status:

...confirmation from a UFC official that Kongo fulfilled the terms of his contract and is unlikely to be re-signed.

Given this information it's hard to draw an exact bead as to what remains of Kongo's relationship with the UFC. It would appear that they have little interest in keeping him around. And while it could be said that he's going out on his terms, it's hard not to see that the UFC isn't expressing a lot of desire to meet him on those terms. For his part Kongo has complicated the matter further by taking to Twitter with claims that he is still employed by the UFC.

I have finished the last fight of my UFC contract BUT I have not been cut by the UFC and I am a UFC Fighter, still. #stop #rumors #lies — Cheick Kongo (@kongo4real) May 1, 2013

I expect that we'll hear a final word from one side or another before long.



