Fedor excited to stay in shape all year for Bellator heavyweight GP
Fedor Emelianenko: “Now I’m going to stay in shape for a whole year, which is exciting.”
Bellator MMA’s World Grand Prix 2018 heavyweight tournament is underway. Chael Sonnen took a Unanimous Decision over ‘Rampage’ Jackson at Bellator 192 in the opening fight of the opening round. The second quarterfinal fight will be a Roy Nelson vs. Matt Mitrione rematch at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on February 16, 2018. And the third fight will be the greatest heavyweight of all time Fedor Emelianenko vs. former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir at Bellator 196 on April 28.
During a recent media event, Fedor, 41, was asked about the upside of his participation in the Bellator GP.
Now I’m going to stay in shape for a whole year, which is exciting, replied Emelianenko via a translator to MMAjunkie.
[Mir] has beaten a lot of top guys. Of course, I’ve always had my sights set on fighting Frank, and I’m excited to do it in the first round.
Mir has not fought since March 20, 2016, when he was knocked out in the first by Mark Hunt. He failed an anti-doping test, and was suspended for two years.
I don’t think the layoff will affect Frank, said Fedor. Frank is a professional, and he will approach it as a professional. He’ll come to fight.
With a win vs. Mir, Fedor would face Chael Sonnen. With a win vs. Sonnen, Fedor would face the winner of the Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson winner vs.
the Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal winner.
When asked where winning the Bellator GP would place among his extraordinary accomplishments, Fedor answered like Fedor.
I would be very happy, he explained.
The final opening-round fight will be Ryan Bader vs. Muhammed Lawal at an event to be named in May at SAP Center in San Jose, California. The tournament alternates are Javy Ayala and Cheick Kongo.
