Matt Mitrione knocked out the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in just under two minutes in the co-main event of Bellator 180.
According to Chael Sonnen, the fight between the two heavyweights really could have ended in either fighter's favor after the double knockdown.
“That match that he had could have gone either way,” he said after the event. “Mitrione’s a rough son-of-a-bitch, and people just don’t understand that. All sorts of a mess was out there. I do want to make that clear, though. I respect Fedor, but I think that he and I’s path are going to cross sooner or later. Fedor gave up 20 pounds tonight to fight Mitrione – the difference between Fedor and I is less than that, so I wouldn’t complain. Fedor didn’t complain about taking on Mitrione and going up in size. I wouldn’t complain about the discrepancy in our weight.”
After his successful victory over Wanderlei Silva at the very same event, the victorious Sonnen called out Fedor.
The fighter explains that he was using the call out to motivate the legendary heavyweight.
“I would never kick a guy when he’s down – I respect Fedor,” Sonnen said. “That was my way of pulling him back up.”
Sonnen now holds a 1-1-0 record under the Bellator MMA banner, while Emelianenko is currently winless in the promotion.
