Bader vs Emelianenko II headlines Bellator 290 as Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader defends his title against MMA legend and former champion Fedor Emelianenko. The bout is the final fight of Fedor Emelianenko, who has decided to call time on an illustrious career that saw him get twenty-seven consecutive victories at a point. The Russian legend will try to exact revenge on American Bader, who needed only twenty seconds to destroy him via TKO in the first installment in January 2019. The fight takes place this Saturday at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
MMA: Bellator Heavyweight championship
Location: Kia Forum, Inglewood, California
Where to watch: CBS, Paramount Plus
Date: 05.2.2023, 08:00
Ryan Bader
Number six in the Bellator men’s pound-for-pound rankings, Ryan Bader is the current heavyweight champion of the promotion. A former light heavyweight champion and winner of the 2018 Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, the 39-year-old American became the first fighter in Bellator history to become champion of two weight classes simultaneously when he defeated Emelianenko to win the vacant heavyweight championship and add it to his light heavyweight belt. “Darth’s” last fight was a title defense against Cheick Kongo in May 2022 at Bellator 280, which he won by unanimous decision.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 39
- Height: 6’ 2”
- Weight: 233 Ibs
- Reach: 74”
- Record: 30-7-1
Fedor Emelianenko
At 46, Emelianenko is still going. Debuting in 2000, the Russian has been described as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time by MMA fighters and some notable publications. Sports Illustrated named him the top MMA fighter of the 2000s. After a controversial loss (doctor’s stoppage) to Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in December 2000, Emelianenko went twenty-eight fights without losing, defeating several high-profile fighters in that run, including wins over four former UFC champions, one Pride FC champion, one former and two future K-1 champions, and two Olympic medalists. Since losing to Bader in 2019, the veteran is on a two-match winning streak, fighting last in 2021.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 46
- Height: 6’ 0”
- Weight: 233 Ibs
- Reach: 76”
- Record: 40-6-1
Betting odds
Bader is the clear favorite to repeat his win over the Russian legend. 1xbet prices a Bader win at 1.43 odds. Bet 365, however, prices a Fedor win at 3.00 odds. Coinplay lists over 0.5 rounds at 2.14 odds.
