Cheick Kongo has promised to "murder" his rival Ryan Bader ahead of their Bellator heavyweight title rematch.
Bader defended his title this past weekend by outpointing interim champion Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273.
Kongo was cageside for the event and was brought into the cage to face-off with Bader after his win, with the promotion officially announcing their rematch for May 6.
The pair fought at Bellator's inaugural event in France two years ago, with a controversial eye-poke from Bader resulting in the fight being declared as a no-contest.
And Kongo revealed what he told Bader when squaring off with him in the cage.
"I told him 'karma is a b****' and you did really good." told Mirror Fighting . "I was impressed with his performance, it was a really good satisfaction.
"I wish he will be able to perform the same way [against me] but I'm going to kill you. When he left the cage, I told him 'you better be ready, because I'm gonna murder you'.
"I wasn't expecting to face him after three years, I thought it was just a utopia but they make it real. Now it's happening.
"His salvation will probably for me to die with Covid or get hit by a car to not face me."
MMA was legalised in Kongo's native country of France in January 2020, with Bellator Paris on May 6 marking the promotion's second visit to the country.
And after fighting professionally for over 20 years, Kongo is over the moon to be competing again in front of his home crowd.
"It's great. I have no words to say, I'm just speechless. Fighting again over there for the title in front of my French citizens," he continued.
"It's one the best gifts ever for them because we struggled to legalise the sport. I have no words. I'm in my own spot, my own country. I failed once but not twice."
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French fighters have burst onto the scene in top promotions such as the UFC in recent years as the sport continues to gain popularity in the country.
Heavyweight Ciryl Gane recently challenged for the UFC heavyweight title and his teammate Nassourdine Imavov is rising through the middleweight rankings.
And Kongo thinks this proves there is a new generation of talented fighters emerging from France.
"It's crazy out there and you can see the results from other fighters like Ciryl Gane and Francis Ngannou. People out there give big dedication for the sport.
"They want to be the next me or the next generation of great French fighters and be recognised all over the world."
