Ryan Bader and Matt Mitrione will face each other on October 12th in the first semifinal of the Bellator GP

R. Bader, the current light heavyweight champion, is looking to become the first simultaneous two-division champion in Bellator history. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook BellatorMMA

Matt Mitrione and Ryan bader will hold the first fight of the Bellator Heavyweight Gran Prix at the event scheduled for October 12th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, United States. The organization made the announcement on Tuesday (10).

The other semifinal fight features Fedor Emelianenko against Chael Sonnen. Bellator has not yet officially announced the date and location for the latest clash.

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The winners of this stage will make the final clash, and this is how the organization's heavyweight champion will be known.

“We’re trying to keep it very close. I want the two semifinals to happen together,” said Bellator president Scott Coker in an interview with the “MMAjunkie” website.

Ryan bader, at 35 years old, he is the current Bellator light heavyweight champion and seeks to be the first simultaneous champion of two divisions in the organization's history. In the heavyweight GP, in his first fight, he beat Muhammed Lawal in 15 seconds in May at Bellator 199.

Matt Mitrione, aged 39, has been with the organization since June 2016. For the Gran Prix he defeated Roy Nelson by majority decision at Bellator 194, in February this year. With the triumph, the North American secured a ticket to the semi-finals.