Officials announced Thursday that Kongo will fight Javy Ayala (10-6) in a heavyweight bout at Bellator 199 on May 12 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Kongo and Ayala were both previously named as alternates for the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
Kongo, 42, has won his last five bouts — all by decision — and seven of his last eight. He is 9-2 in the Bellator cage and 27-10-2 as a professional dating back to 2001. In his last outing at Bellator 179 in May of last year, he took a split nod over Augusto Sakai in London.