Bellator will finally crown a new heavyweight champion.
More than three years after the last heavyweight title bout in the promotion history, Bellator has decided to stage an eight-man tournament in 2018 to give the division a new champion. MMA Fighting confirmed the news Friday following a report by MMA Junkie.
Former PRIDE champion Fedor Emelianenko will join fellow MMA veterans Frank Mir, Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione in the heavyweight tourney. Light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader is also scheduled to compete in the tournament, alongside 205-pounders Quinton Jackson, Muhammed Lawal and Chael Sonnen.