Report: Bellator working on Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione

Sometime next year MMA fans may be treated to Fedor’s Bellator debut against former UFC HW Matt Mitrione.

When Bellator and Rizin joined forces back in 2015, the idea of Fedor Emelianenko appearing with the Spike TV promotion suddenly seemed to have some life to it. With the Japanese promotion trading with their US partner in talent for their larger events, it felt only natural that Bellator might pick a star or two to feature in their own cage.

However, with reports that relationship between the former Pride star and Rizin may be cooling, the idea of Fedor in Bellator seemed to cool too. And yet… FloCombat now reports that “The Last Emperor” is closing in on a deal to fight Matt Mitrione in the Bellator cage, sometime in early 2017.

Mitrione is coming off a pair of KO wins in his first year under the Bellator banner, after fighting out his UFC contract. The TUF 10 veteran spent his entire career with the Zuffa promotion, before leaving in early 2016.

Emelianenko is currently riding a 5 fight unbeaten streak, stretching back to his exit from Strikeforce in 2011. However, more pertinently, he’s coming off an incredibly controversial decision over Fabio Maldonado at Eurasia Fight Nights 50 back in June. What was initially recorded as a majority decision win has since been amended as a unanimous draw by the World MMA Association. The record remains unchanged however, since the Russian MMA Union – which sanctioned the event – has refused to acknowledge the WMMAA’s adjustment.

Whichever way the bout should have been scored, it marked a notable step down in performance from the MMA legend. It should make for close odds on a fight that at one point would have seen Fedor as a heavy favorite.

Sometime next year MMA fans may be treated to Fedor’s Bellator debut against former UFC HW Matt Mitrione.

When Bellator and Rizin joined forces back in 2015, the idea of Fedor Emelianenko appearing with the Spike TV promotion suddenly seemed to have some life to it. With the Japanese promotion trading with their US partner in talent for their larger events, it felt only natural that Bellator might pick a star or two to feature in their own cage.

However, with reports that relationship between the former Pride star and Rizin may be cooling, the idea of Fedor in Bellator seemed to cool too. And yet… FloCombat now reports that “The Last Emperor” is closing in on a deal to fight Matt Mitrione in the Bellator cage, sometime in early 2017.

Mitrione is coming off a pair of KO wins in his first year under the Bellator banner, after fighting out his UFC contract. The TUF 10 veteran spent his entire career with the Zuffa promotion, before leaving in early 2016.

Emelianenko is currently riding a 5 fight unbeaten streak, stretching back to his exit from Strikeforce in 2011. However, more pertinently, he’s coming off an incredibly controversial decision over Fabio Maldonado at Eurasia Fight Nights 50 back in June. What was initially recorded as a majority decision win has since been amended as a unanimous draw by the World MMA Association. The record remains unchanged however, since the Russian MMA Union – which sanctioned the event – has refused to acknowledge the WMMAA’s adjustment.

Whichever way the bout should have been scored, it marked a notable step down in performance from the MMA legend. It should make for close odds on a fight that at one point would have seen Fedor as a heavy favorite.