Bellator 198: Fedor Emelianenko Beats Frank Mir with 1st-Round TKO
By The Big Lead
[Reprinted with permission from MMA Junkie]
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The legendary “Last Emperor” isn’t done yet. Far from it.
Fedor Emelianenko (37-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) knocked out Frank Mir (18-12 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in the first round to move on to the semifinals of Bellator’s heavyweight tournament. The stoppage came just 48 seconds into the opening frame with Mir left stunned on the canvas.
The heavyweight bout in the opening round of Bellator’s grand prix tournament was the main event of today’s Bellator 198 event at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago. It aired on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Emelianenko went to the center of the cage and then backed away when Mir threw a kick. Seconds later, Mir landed a right hand and put Emelianenko on the canvas. But Emelianenko worked through it and returned to slam Mir to the canvas.
After that, the two went back to the center – and that’s when all hell broke loose, and not in Mir’s favor. With Mir coming forward throwing a barrage of punches, Emelianenko calmly backed up and planted a left uppercut squarely on Mir’s chin. Mir fell face first to the canvas, and Emelianenko pounced on him with several punches on the canvas until referee Mike Beltran shut things down.
The end came just 48 seconds after the fight began.
Emelianenko now moves into the tournament’s semifinal round, where he fights Chael Sonnen later this year. Sonnen, part of the event’s broadcast team, was brought into the cage after Emelianenko’s win.
“I think the only thing I hate more than being in Chicago is being in this cage with you,” Sonnen said to Emelianenko. “And the next time I am, I assure you it will not be for long.”
Emelianenko is back in the win column after a loss to Matt Mitrione in his Bellator debut. He has won six of his past seven. Mir lost for the third straight time and seventh time in nine fights.