Scott Coker: Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals Targeted for October

Expect to see both semifinals of Bellator’s heavyweight grand prix take place this coming October.

That’s according to Scott Coker, who is targeting that timeframe for both Fedor Emelianenko vs. Chael Sonnen and Ryan Bader vs. Matt Mitrione. The bouts will not occur on the same night, however.

“I would just put in your calendars mid-October as kind of the timeframe both of those fights will happen, but we’ll have something to announce soon. We’re trying to keep it in close proximity. I don’t want one fight to happen and then the next semifinal to happen a month later. I don’t think it’s fair,” Coker told assembled media following Bellator 201 this past Friday (video via MMAjunkie.com). “I want both of the semifinals to happen close together.”

Emelianenko knocked out Frank Mir in 48 seconds to punch his ticket to the semifinal, and Sonnen outpointed Quinton Jackson in his quarterfinal bout. Meanwhile, Bader stopped Muhammed Lawal in 15 seconds, while Mitrione garnered a majority decision over Roy Nelson to set up their bout.

A location and venue for the grand prix seminfinals has not been announced.