Kongo in for Herring at UFC 99

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Wednesday announced that Cheick Kongo has agreed to step in for the injured Heath Herring at UFC 99 to face CainVelasquez.

The promotion on Tuesday revealed that Herring had to withdraw from the bout due to an unspecified injury.

Kongo -- a teammate of Michael Bisping and Quinton Jackson at the Wolfslair Academy in England -- enters the bout riding a wave of success. He has won three straight bouts since losing a bout, ironically enough, to Herring at UFC 82 more than a year ago.

Velasquez has quickly amassed an undefeated record of 5-0, finishing all five of his opponents -- including three in the UFC -- by way of TKO. Kongo, however, is the American Kickboxing Academy-trained fighter's toughest bout to date.