"I have to be able to start my preparation - the thing I haven't done yet. I am still injured. I don't think it would happen at UFC 116. Maybe later but not then. I didn't get any word from the UFC [on Nelson]. I have my manager Anthony who's working on that and as of today, I'm just actively recovering and nothing else."-Cheick Kongo

12-fight Octagon veteran Cheick Kongo all but confirms that a lingering back injury will force him out of his rumored heavyweight bout against The Ultimate Fighter 10 winner Roy Nelson at UFC 116 in July. He may need surgery to correct the problem but is still awaiting  final word from doctors. Kongo suffered the back injury in his fight against Paul Buentello at UFC on Versus 1 on March 21 in Broomfield, Colorado.

Kongo recently signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC and was looking to build off of the win over Buentello. The win got him back on the track in the UFC's ever growing heavyweight division and likely saved his job in the organization, as he previously lost back-to-back fights against Cain Velasquez at UFC 99 and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 107.

Nelson is currently on a two-fight winning streak, picking up wins in his first two UFC fights over Brendan Schaub via first round knockout to take the TUF 10 heavyweight tournament at December's "The Ultimate Fighter" season 10 finale, and then against Stefan Struve in his next outing at UFC Fight Night 21 where he notched a first round TKO over the promising 6'11" Dutch youngster.

Nelson is expected to remain on the UFC 116 card and several reports, has pinpointed two possible replacement opponents in fast rising contender Junior dos Santos and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.

Both dos Santos and Mir present intriguing match ups for Nelson, however, a match up with Mir would present a more interesting storyline. Nelson and Mir previously competed against each other in a grappling tournament hosted by Grapplers Quest in September 2003, where Nelson defeated Mir on points.

Make sure to check back with us the day of the event for free, live, round-by-round coverage of UFC 116 right here at FiveKnuckles.com! Join expert analyst Mike Williams as he takes you through the entire fight card blow-by-blow and then keep it right here for all the post-fight news and notes you can handle!