Fedor-Mitrione canceled hours before Bellator 172 main event

"The Last Emperor" will have to wait a little longer before returning to the United States.

Hours before Fedor Emelianenko was scheduled to face Matt Mitrione in the main event of Bellator 172 in San Jose on Saturday, company president Scott Coker announced that Mitrione has been forced to withdraw due to an illness. This was to be Emelianenko's first American appearance in over five years.

A lightweight bout between Josh Thomson and Patricky Freire will now headline the card.

According to a report from Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, citing the California State Athletic Commission, fans are being a offered a full refund if they put in a request before the event begins.

The 40-year-old Emelianenko signed with Bellator last November and was immediately scheduled to face Mitrione, a veteran of 14 UFC fights. Emelianenko ended a three-year retirement last December and is currently riding a five-fight winning streak. He is widely recognized as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the history of MMA.