Brackets for Bellator MMA’s World Grand Prix 2018 were just announced on ESPN’s SportsCenter:
Quinton Jackson vs. Chael Sonnen
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir
Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson
Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/933525244098240517
The tournament will unfold across seven events in 2018 and the winner will be take the vacant Bellator MMA heavyweight championship. That title has been vacant since the promotion stipped then champion Vitaly Minakov for inactivity in May of 2016. There has been no Bellator heavyweight title fight since April of 2014, when Minakov defeated Cheick Kongo
First Round Tournament Schedule:
Quinton Jackson vs. Chael Sonnen
Bellator 192
January 20
The Forum, Inglewood, California
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir
Bellator TBA
February 16
Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson
Bellator TBA
April TBA
Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal
Bellator TBA
May TBA
SAP Center in San Jose, California
Semifinal
Quinton Jackson vs. Chael Sonnen winner
vs
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir winner
Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson winner
vs.
Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal
Tournament alternates have not been determined, but president Scott Coker said the potential pool includes Javy Ayala, Shane Carwin, Sergei Kharitonov, Cheick Kongo, Bobby Lashley, and Justin Wren.
