by Jeffrey Lee, MMARated.com

Considered one of the best strikers in the heavyweight division, Cheick Kongo has seen his fair share of ups and downs in the UFC. Coming off a disappointing loss ot Heath Herring at UFC 82, Kongo recently knocked out newcomer Dan Evensen earlier this month at UFC 87 in Minneapolis. Now back to his winning ways, MMARated.com’s Jeffrey Lee recently caught up with the Frenchman to talk about his most recent bout, why he thinks he deserves a title shot, and a potential showdown against Brock Lesnar.

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Jeffrey Lee: Congratulations on your victory at UFC 87. Did that fight go exactly as planned for you?

Cheick Kongo: I did not know anything about my opponent before the fight except the fact that he was a good striker. My game plan was simple: To win. Stand up, seek and destroy [laughs]. All I wanted was to knock him out as far as I could. It was always on my mind and that’s what I did.

JL: For a while, the knock on you was that your ground skills were not up to par with your striking skills. However, in your last two fights, you’ve shown a willingness to go to the ground. Do you officially feel more comfortable there?

CK: You know, I was a wrestler before I became a Thai boxer. I began practicing Greco-Roman wrestling, then kickboxing and Muay-Thai. I try to improve everything: I train sparring, grappling, wrestling just like I train standup every day. I think my ground game is underrated, I’m pretty much well-rounded on the ground even if some of my critics says that I haven’t any [laughs]!

JL: How glad were you that the UFC chose to air your fight on pay-per-view?

CK: I didn’t know it. This is a good thing for all my family, friends and fans. I hope they enjoyed watching me fighting. All I’ve done, I’ve done it for them.

JL: What do you think you proved in the minds of MMA fans with this win?

CK: That I am a good fighter and I deserve to get a title shot. Nobody really knows all the sacrifices I did to be here and earn a chance to get a better life. You can have your favorite fighters, but please respect us. We are not “pieces of shit.” We’re not only fighters, we’re also humans.

JL: Do you truly think you deserve a title shot so soon?

CK: This was my seventh UFC fight. I have never been completely dominated by an opponent in a UFC fight, even in my 2 losses which were by split decision. I won five fights among which three were by KO/ TKO. So, I’m asking: How many fights do I have to win to definitely give me the credibility to get a title shot?

JL: Valid point. Well, there has been a lot of speculation as to whom you will be facing next with the general consensus being Brock Lesnar. Is that a fight you would be interested in?

CK: I’m a UFC fighter. I can fight anyone they want me to fight. They wanted me to fight one of the top heavyweights in the world [in Mirko] Cro Cop and I did it! They wanted me to take a step back and fight a newcomer like Evensen and I did it too. If the UFC wants me to fight Lesnar, I’ll do it for sure.

JL: What were your thoughts on his performance against Heath Herring at UFC 87?

CK: Amazing fight. Lesnar was impressive. He showed confidence in his standup striking and completely dominated Heath Herring.

JL: What would be your strategy going into a fight against Lesnar?

CK: Just invite him for dinner [laughs]. I won’t tell you what would be my strategy! Why would I tell you that? My next opponent would know what to look out for! You know, I try to never underestimate any of my opponents but there's really nothing that worries me too much with Brock Lesnar. I know it could be a tough fight, but, you know, I train hard and I will be ready for this one too. I am hungry.

JL: Have you been contacted about your next fight yet? (Update: As reported earlier, a source inside Kongo’s management team has informed MMARated.com that UFC officials have offered Kongo a fight against Brock Lesnar for either November or December.)

CK: I can’t say anything for the moment. Be patient! Anyway, I don’t pick my opponents and I don’t care who I fight. As you know, my goal is to win the UFC heavyweight belt and I'll fight whoever the UFC puts in front of me until [I get] a title shot. So, I really don't care who will be the next one. The only thing I don’t want is to be underpaid. I want to be paid what I’m worth and respected as an MMA complete athlete.

JL: I would be remiss if I didn't ask your thoughts on the tough times your good friend Quinton Jackson has gone through recently. Do you have any explanation for his behavior?

CK: He is my little bro. I’ll always be there for him through the good and bad times.

JL: You continue to train under his former trainer Juanito Ibarra despite the fact that they have parted ways. Do you have any idea as to why they split up?

CK: Life goes on. Next question please.

JL: What’s it like training with Jackson, Ibarra, and Michael Bisping?

CK: I am really proud to train with them. Rampage & Bisping are more than my partners, they are true friends, my little brothers. Juanito is a good coach, really professional, so I can’t complain. I have a great training team. They all really committed themselves to help me to push it to the limit, and I’m thankful for that.

JL: What’s the biggest difference between training here in the US as opposed to your native France?

CK: As you probably already know, MMA as we practice it in the US is not allowed in France, so French MMA fighters have to deal with two serious problems: Finding fights and getting to train properly. In France, full-time training is a luxury I do not have. I have a full–time job - I am a commercial agent for a French brand called “Company de Californie,” so I must train really early in the morning and late in the evening, all my weekends and free-time to be and stay on top. This is a lot of sacrifices and dedications. All is easier here in the US.

JL: Ever since you defeated him in April 2007, Mirko Cro Cop continues to call you out. Can you comment on what he recently said about you:

“I have a message for Kongo. Listen, I thought that you are a sportsman, a professional like everyone else in this sport. You were lucky enough to fight against me during the deepest crisis of my career. You probably ate a lot of vegetables and potatoes to look like that? I’ll be back in the cage and I hope you will be in the opposite corner. Then, we’ll see for how long you’ll be able to talk.”

CK: It’s not worth commenting on it, but if he wants a UFC rematch, it will be a pleasure for me to beat him one more time. Update: As reported earlier, a source inside Cheick’s management, has said Cheick has been contacted to fight Brock Lesnar and that fight would either take place in November or December.