Pros React to Fedor Emelianenko Turning Back Time to Knock Out Frank Mir at Bellator 198

Fedor Emelianenko, set to headline Bellator 198
Fedor Emelianenko Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

The legendary heavyweight GOAT turned back time ever so briefly at Bellator 198 on Saturday night in Chicago — and fellow pros from Bellator, the UFC and beyond took notice!

Chicago bore witness to four straight submissions on the main card of Bellator 198, an unprecedented run given the names involved: Danis, Gracie, Lovato Jr., and Sanchez. Yet the action wasn’t done there. Bellator 198’s main event saw the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Opposite him in the Bellator MMA cage in Chicago was ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko. If ever there was a legend vs. legend battle, it was this — but did either man have much left in the tank?

In the end, the Russian legend prove he could turn back the clock at least one last time. After an early scare, Emelianenko caught Mir with a short right uppercut. That sent Frank Mir tumbling forward to the canvas. Fedor pounced, landing a number of strikes on the downed ex-champ until the ref moved in to wave it off. It was over within a round.

The win sets up Fedor in a semi-final bout against Chael Sonnen, which should be entertaining for the build up alone. In the meantime, check out what the pros had to say immediately after Fedor Emelianenko’s big win!