Fedor Emelianenko v Chael Sonnen Bellator semi-final bout booked for October
Russia’s Fedor Emelianenko and Chael 'The American Gangster' Sonnen are set to square off on October 13 with a place in the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix final at stake.
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Russian legend Emelianenko, considered by many to be the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts history, will face Sonnen in the Nassau Collisseum in Long Island, New York, with the victor facing the winner of the second semi-final between Ryan Bader v. Matt Mitrione, which is scheduled to take place a day prior.
Emelianenko, who will be 42-years-old by the time of the bout, has won six of his last seven contests. The sole loss came via first round stoppage against Mitrione, a potential opponent for the Russian in the final if he successfully gets past Sonnen.
‘The Last Emperor’ has a lengthy list of notable victories, having bested the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski and Mark Coleman throughout his career.
The American fighter, meanwhile, has won successive Bellator fights against MMA legends Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Wanderlei Silva and a win against Emelianenko will make it a trifecta of victories against three of the most famous fighters associated with the now defunct Pride Fighting Championships promotion in Japan.
