Fedor Emelianenko is going to compete inside the Bellator cage in 2017.

Multiple sources have confirmed with FloCombat a bout between "The Last Emperor" and former UFC veteran turned Bellator contender Matt Mitrione is being targeted for early 2017. On Saturday night's broadcast for Bellator 165, the heavyweight mega-bout was made official.

Mitrione will face Emelianenko at Bellator 172 on February 18 in San Jose, California.

A matchup between Emelianenko and Mitrione would not only be the biggest fight in the history of the promotion's heavyweight division, but it would also be on par as one of the most high-profile tilts ever put together under the Bellator banner.

Mitrione has won back-to-back showings since arriving to his new home earlier this year, with each of those victories coming via stoppage. A win over Fedor would certainly be the biggest of Mitrione's career, and that has to be a huge appeal for the former NFL player turned mixed martial artist.

There is similar appeal where Emelianenko is concerned.

A fight with Mitrione would serve to silence the Russian's critics that he doesn't take dangerous matchups and help level the sting of a rough performance against Fabio Maldonado many believe he lost in June.

Stay tuned to FloCombat as further details of the matchup emerge.

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