That’s right, the Bellator 290 fight card will pit an mma GOAT against the current light heavyweight title holder, Ryan Bader. The event will air live on Saturday February 4, 2023 live from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA.
Ryan Bader is looking to defend his title for the second time, since winning it in January of last year against former, interim champion, Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273. Bader defeated Emelianenko in January of 2019 by way of round 1 TKO, which won him the heavyweight title. Now the two will square off again which will undoubtedly lead to some heavy, leather flying.
Long time MMA fans are no stranger to Russian fighter Fedor ‘The Last Emperor’ Emelianenko. Having been inactive for nearly two years should play in favor for the champion, Ryan Bader. Fader has upset some amazing fighters in the past, however, will he be able to do it again at 46. Either way, this will be his retirement fight, and we wish him the best and thank him for the years of entertaining brutality.
video courtesy of Bellator
Bellator 290 Fight Card
Main Card (airing on CBS and Paramount+ 9:00pm ET)
Ryan Bader #c (31-7-0), (-340) vs Fedor Emelianenko (40-6-0), (+280) – heavyweight title bout
Johnny Eblen (12-0-0), (-260) vs Anatoly Tokov (31-2-0), (+220) – middleweight title bout
Sabah Homasi (17-10-0), (-195) vs Brennan Ward (16-6-0), (+165) – welterweight feature bout
Prelims (airing on CBS and Paramount+ 5:55PM ET)
Lorenz Larkin (24-7-0), (+185) vs Mukhamed Berkhamov (14-0-0), (-215) – welterweight bout
Chris Gonzalez (7-2-0), (-190) vs Max Rohskopf (7-1-0), (+160) – lightweight bout
Neiman Gracie (11-4-0), (-275) vs Dante Schiro (8-4-0), (+230) – welterweight bout
Steve Mowry (10-0-0), (-135) vs Ali Isaev (9-0-0), (+115) – heavyweight bout
Darrion Caldwell (15-5-0), (+135) vs Nikita Mikhailov (9-2-0), (-155) – bantamweight bout
Henry Corrales (20-6-0), (+390) vs Akhmed Magomedov (9-0-0), (-490) – featherweight bout
Grant Neal (6-1-0), (+120) vs Karl Albrektsson (13-4-0), (-140) – light heavyweight bout
Jaylon Bates (6-0-0), (+255) vs Jornel Lugo (8-1-0), (-305) – bantamweight bout
Ethan Hughes (3-0-0), (+120) vs Yusuf Karakaya (1-0-0), (-140) – welterweight bout
Isaiah Hokit (2-1-0), () vs Peter Ishiguro (debut) – featherweight bout
Alejandra Lara (9-6-0), (-115) vs Diana Avsaragova (5-0-0), (-105) – women’s flyweight bout
That wraps it up for the Bellator 290 fight card. Be sure to tune in when the event goes live Saturday, February 4, 2023. It should be a great night for fight fans, who get to see a true GOAT in mma have a final send off in a great match and watch as Ryan Bader will look to continue his reign as champion.
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