By FCF Staff

Bellator recently announced that it will be holding a heavyweight tourney throughout 2018, featuring some of the promotion’s biggest names, and now the opening round fights have been confirmed.

The upcoming tournament, which is being held to determine Bellator’s new heavyweight champion, will feature Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (37-12), Roy Nelson (23-14), Chael Sonnen (30-15-1), Frank Mir (18-11), “King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC), Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC), Matt Mitrione (12-5) and Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader(24-5).

Recently Bellator tweeted out the tourney’s opening round fights:

Just announced on @SportsCenter: The Heavyweight World Grand Prix bracket is set and kicks off Jan 20th in LA with @ChaelSonnen vs @Rampage4real!! pic.twitter.com/jEB9pPg4wD

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 23, 2017

ESPN is reporting that the tourney will get underway on January 20th in Los Angeles, and that the Jackson – Sonnen fight will take place at the event, as noted above.

Nelson and Mitrione will fight on February 16th at a card in Uncasville, Connecticut. Mir and Emelianenko will fight on a date to be confirmed in April, and Lawal and Bader will battle on a date to be confirmed in May.