What excites Fedor Emelianenko about Bellator's heavyweight tournament? Staying in shape

TEMECULA – Former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has seen a few tournaments. He doesn’t get too excited over a bracket.

Then again, Emelianenko doesn’t get excited about much. The stone-cold legend struggles when asked about the upside of his participation in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix.

“Now I’m going to stay in shape for a whole year, which is exciting,” Emelianenko told MMAjunkie through a translator during fight week for this past Friday’s Bellator 193.

The immediate task ahead is what drives Emelianenko (36-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) as he nears a showdown with ex-UFC champ Frank Mir (18-11 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in the tourney’s quarterfinal round, which takes place at Bellator 197. The event takes place April 28 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., near Chicago. The main card will air on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

It’s a chance for Emelianenko to get back on track after his Bellator debut nearly ended in a double knockout. He’s well aware of Mir’s accomplishments despite the ex-champ’s long layoff heading into the bout.

“(Mir has) beaten a lot of top guys,” Emelianenko said. “Of course, I’ve always had my sights set on fighting Frank, and I’m excited to do it in the first round.”

Mir spent almost two years in limbo after being notified of a potential anti-doping violation by UFC anti-doping partner USADA. He was granted his release from the promotion after receiving a two-year suspension.

Although Mir hasn’t fought since March 2016, Emelianenko dismissed any advantage that might come from cage rust.

“I don’t think the layoff will affect Frank,” he said. “Frank is a professional, and he will approach it as a professional. He’ll come to fight.”

Mir is just one of three remaining opponents in the tournament. With a win, Emelianenko will advance to the semifinals, where he’ll face Chael Sonnen, who’s stepping up in weight for the challenge.

Emelianenko is the sentimental favorite of the tournament being one of the most accomplished MMA heavyweights of all time. But he takes the attention with a shrug of the shoulders, like most of the competitions he’s entered.

Asked where a win in the grand prix would rank in his career to date, he was as always a man of few words.

“I would be very happy,” he said.

For more on Bellator 197, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.