Bellator 172 "Fedor vs. Mitrione" is coming to SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2017. The bout to lure the fans in the door that evening is MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko returning for his first U.S. fight in over five years against the massive Matt Mitrione.
If one heavyweight attraction with international appeal is a draw, then two is even better, so Bellator has booked a brand new fight for the card with France's own Cheick Kongo facing British star Oli Thompson.
Kongo (25-10-2) has as solid a claim as any fighter in Bellator to the vacant heavyweight title, having won five of his last six fights and seven out of nine overall since joining Bellator back in 2013.