Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Semi-Finalists Emelianenko, Sonnen Booked for Oct. 13

The finalists in Bellator MMA’s heavyweight grand prix will be determined by Oct. 14, as the promotion is set to hold the remaining two semi-final bouts on the weekend of Oct. 12.

Semi-finalists Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen are officially set to collide on Oct. 13 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York, Newsday reported on Thursday.

Sonnen and Emelianenko will compete just one day after fellow grand prix semi-finalists Ryan Bader and Matt Mitrione throw down on Oct. 12 in Connecticut.

Emelianenko (37-5, 1 NC) knocked out former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Frank Mir in under a minute in April to advance to the semi-finals, while Sonnen (31-15-1) defeated Quinton Jackson in January. Meanwhile, on the other side of the tournament bracket, Bader crushed Muhammed Lawal in May by way of a stunning 15-second knockout. Mitrione avenged a previous loss to Roy Nelson with a decision victory over “Big Country” in February.

The winner of the tournament will be crowned Bellator’s heavyweight champion, occupying a throne that has sat vacant since Vitaly Minakov was stripped of the title in May 2016 for failure to defend.