Hopefully there’s no fight-ending groin kick this time around.
After a highly painful and unfortunate ending to their first fight, Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov are headed for a rematch.
As was announced during Friday night’s Bellator 222 card, the two heavyweights will square off in the main event of a Bellator MMA show on August 24th at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. No broadcast details were announced, although it’s expected that it’ll be simulcast on Paramount Network and DAZN.
Back in February, Mitrione whacked Kharitonov in the groin just fifteen seconds into the bout. Kharitonov was in excruciating pain and was unable to continue, leading to a no-contest ruling. It was later reported that the Russian had suffered a hemorrhoid as a result of that kick.
Mitrione (13-6, 1 NC) is looking for his first win in over a year. He entered the Bellator HW tournament and won his quarterfinal matchup with Roy Nelson, but was dominated and lost to eventual winner Ryan Bader in the semifinals. The former UFC fighter’s biggest victory to date was his dramatic KO of Fedor Emelianenko in June 2017.
Kharitonov (28-6, 2 NC) has not lost since his stunning KO vs. Javy Ayala in his Bellator debut back in November 2016. The kickboxing and MMA veteran is unbeaten in his last seven fights, although two of his previous three have ended in a no-contest. His most recent win was a sensational KO of Roy Nelson back in October.
No other bouts have been announced for the August 24th event.