Chael Sonnen offered to replace ill Matt Mitrione and fight Fedor Emelianenko

Bellator 172 lost its main event just hours before the preliminary card kicked off inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione was called off due to Mitrione falling ill, reportedly because of kidney stones. Mitrione is currently in the hospital as of Saturday evening.

Attempts to keep Fedor on the card were unsuccessful, with Scott Coker telling ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that they just “ran out of time.”

One of the fighters who was willing to replace Mitrione was none other than Chael Sonnen. Ariel Helwani and Brett Okamoto both tweeted out the details.

That certainly been one hell of a twist in this tale. Sonnen is certainly no stranger to trying to save main events. He famously wanted to replace Dan Henderson and fight Jon Jones for Jones’ light heavyweight title at UFC 151, but that obviously never materialized.

Sonnen (29-15-1) made his Bellator debut last month, losing by rear-naked choke to Tito Ortizin the Bellator 170 main event. In an alternative world where he would’ve snagged a bout with Fedor at the last second, this would’ve been the first heavyweight fight of his career.

Bellator 172 will still proceed despite the Fedor-Mitrione cancellation. The new headliner is a lightweight bout between Patricky Freire and Josh Thomson, which was due to be the night’s co-main.