Bellator MMA is preparing to crown a new heavyweight champion in 2018 and they will do so with an eight man tournament dubbed the Bellator MMA Heavyweight Grand Prix.
All eight competitors have previously been announced for the tournament, but now the bracket and pairings have been announced as well.
On one side of the bracket, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rampage Jackson takes on Chael Sonnen, while former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko faces former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir.
The other side of the bracket will see Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader face King Mo and UFC veterans collide as Roy Nelson faces Matt Mitrione.
Everything kicks off on Saturday, January 20 when Rampage and Sonnen battle on the Bellator 192 card, which is headlined by welterweight champion Douglas Lima defending against UFC veteran Rory MacDonald.
A month later on February 16, a rematch between Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson takes place. The two first collided at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale in 2012 and Nelson won on that night.
Then the Frank Mir vs. Fedor Emelianenko fight takes places at a yet to be announced event in April, while the first round concludes in May as Ryan Bader faces King Mo.
Dates for the semi-final round and finals have yet to be announced.
