Missouri Office of Athletics confirms Matt Mitrione needs MRI to be cleared for Bellator 158 next month

Bellator's newest heavyweight, Matt Mitrione, defeated Carl Seumanutafa at Bellator 157: Dynamite 2 last Friday night (June 24, 2016), but the 37-year-old fighter got dropped early on in the fight with a big right hand.

Mitrione, 37, was still a bit hazy on the details of the bout when being interviewed by Jimmy Smith immediately afterward, and the announcement that he would be facing Oli Thompson at Bellator 158 in London on July 16, 2016, elicited a negative reaction among fans and media.

That bout is still up in the air as Mitrione is currently in a seven-day waiting period and will need an MRI before getting cleared to fight in London. Missouri Office of Athletics executive Director, Tim Lueckenhoff confirmed to MMAmania.com on Monday afternoon (June 27, 2016).

Suemanutafa was issued a 60-day suspension.

Bellator director of regulatory affairs informed MMAmania.com after the bout on Friday that an MRI would be needed.

Bellator president Scott Coker admitted at the post-fight press conference that Bellator may have "jumped the gun" in announcing the Mitrione vs. Thompson matchup so quickly, but he maintained that the promotion would adhere to and honor any medical suspension issued to Mitrione, which would, obviously, prevent him from fighting on the Bellator 158 card.

"Yeah, of course," Coker told MMAmania.com at the post-fight presser on Friday. "We will talk to the commission later today and we will go from there."

MMAmania.com will keep you updated on this situation as more information becomes available.