Bellator Grand Prix Semifinalists Matt Mitirone, Ryan Bader to Meet Oct. 12 in Connecticut

One Bellator heavyweight grand prix semifinal has a date and venue.

The California-based promotion announced Tuesday that Matt Mitrione and Ryan Bader will lock horns on Oct. 12 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event’s main card will air on the Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and will also be available to stream via DAZN.

The winner of Mitrione vs. Bader will advance to the finals of the grand prix, where he will lock horns with the winner of the Chael Sonnen-Fedor Emelianenko matchup. A date for Sonnen vs. Emelianenko hasn’t been announced, but it is expected to take place within close proximity of the other semifinal.

Mitrione punched his ticket to the semifinals with a majority decision triumph over Roy Nelson at Bellator 194 on Feb. 16. “Meathead” is 4-0 during his promotional tenure thus far, a record that includes a first-round stoppage of Emelianenko last year.

Bader, the organization’s reigning light heavyweight champ, advanced to the round of four with a 15-second TKO of Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 199 on May 12. The Power MMA Team product has won 10 of his last 11 contests.

The Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix returns October 12th!

Semi-finalists @mattmitrione and light heavyweight champ @ryanbader face off at @MoheganSun to decide who will advance to the #BellatorWGP finals!

Exclusive online pre-sale this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/EUrhg9Pqbh

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) July 10, 2018