Bellator 198 plays host to the third quarter final of the highly-anticipated Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix, with two mixed martial arts greats in “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko taking on former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.
With both men in the latter stages of their illustrious careers, this was a fight that fans would be dreaming of ten years ago, when Mir held the interim UFC heavyweight title, and Fedor was beating top opponents across the globe after clinching the PRIDE heavyweight crown.
Mir hasn’t competed in over two years, since a first-round knockout loss to Mark Hunt in Brisbane, Australia. The fight marks his debut under the Bellator banner after spending all but his first two match ups inside the UFC octagon. The Las Vegas resident has amassed an impressive list of victories over his career, with victories over Brock Lesnar, Mirko Cro Cop and Antonio Nogueira across his record.
Mir is widely known for his jiu-jitsu, with his kimura submission of Brazilian legend Antonio Nogueira considered one of the greatest submissions of all time. A total of nine submission victories over his career, he also forced Brock Lesnar to tap to a leg lock back at UFC 81.
But don’t sleep on Frank Mir’s hands. He put Antonio Silva and Todd Duffee to sleep in two first round victories in 2015, with both demonstrating the extraordinary power in his hands. It would be foolish to consider Mir as solely a jiu-jitsu man, as the thirty-eight-year-old is well rounded. He holds a black belt in both kempo karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Fedor Emelianenko is also well rounded, having been a four-time world champion in combat sambo, as well as having a black belt in judo. Fedor is considered to be one of the greatest men to ever compete in the sport, and has picked up seventeen submission victories over his career, defeating the likes of Mark Coleman and Mark Hunt by tapout over his eighteen-year career.
Fedor’s long awaited Bellator debut didn’t go to plan at Madison Square Garden, with perennial heavyweight contender Matt Mitrione knocking the Russian legend out in just over a minute. It’s hard to consider his credentials since the turn of the decade, with losses to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson before a five-fight winning streak over some lesser known names, including a highly controversial decision victory over Fabio Maldonado. Whilst the judges, and the Russian MMA Union consider Fedor the winner, the World MMA Association ruled the fight a draw.
This fight may be long overdue, but the excitement is still building over this legendary match up. The Allstate Arena in Chicago will play host to the heavyweight match up, with the winner progessing to face “The American Gangster” Chael Sonnen in the semi-final.
The mixed martial arts debut of Dillon Danis also takes place on the card. The jiu-jitsu practitioner is perhaps best known for his affiliation with Conor McGregor, becoming a sparring partner for the Irishman in recent years. Danis will clash with Kyle Walker, a middleweight riding a three-fight losing streak. His last victory came back in 2013 and he is not currently the Manchester City right-back.
It’s a night for the jiu-jitsu fans, with Neiman Gracie looking to move to 8-0 as he faces Mexico’s Javier Torres. Neiman is the great-nephew of MMA pioneer Royce Gracie, and the great-grandson of Carlos Gracie, who helped develop Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the early 1900s.
Unfortunately, the fight will not be available on UK television with Bellator still failing to make fight cards available to British fight fans.
Full Fight Card
Main Card (2AM)
Heavyweight: Frank Mir vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Featherweight: Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Sam Sicilia
Welterweight: Neiman Gracie vs. Javier Torres
Catchweight (175lbs): Dillon Danis vs. Kyle Walker
Catchweight (188lbs): Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Gerald Harris
