Mitrione vs. Bader Bellator Heavyweight Grad Prix semi set for Oct. 12

ryan-bader-celebrates-bellator-win-over-king-mo-lawal

Bellator MMA light-heavyweight champion reacts to his knockout win over Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. (Photo courtesy Bellator MMA)

Matt Mitrione and Ryan Bader are set to meet Oct. 12 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., in the semifinals of the ongoing Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, the promotion announced Tuesday.

Bader (25-5) only needed 15 seconds to knock out Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in May to advance into the second round of the tournament, while Mitrione (13-5) earned his way through the opening round with a majority decision victory over Roy Nelson in February.

Bader is Bellator’s current light-heavyweight champion riding a five-fight winning streak. Mitrione has gone 4-0 in the Bellator cage since leaving the UFC in 2016.

Fedor Emelianenko will face Chael Sonnen at a later date in the other semifinal on the opposite side of the tournament’s bracket.

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