5 Reasons to Watch Bellator 198

Giants in their chosen profession, Fedor Emelianenko and Frank Mir will soon stand face to face with one another inside the cage -- a battle once believed to be unlikely at best come to fruition.

Emelianenko will take on Mir in the 2018 Bellator MMA heavyweight grand prix, their showdown headlining Bellator 198 this Saturday at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. A date with Chael Sonnen in the tournament semifinals awaits the winner, as Bellator whittles down what was once an eight-man field in pursuit of its vacant heavyweight championship.

While a shell of his former self, Emelianenko remains one of the sport’s most revered competitors. The 41-year-old former Pride Fighting…