Bellator 290 kicks off 2023 for the promotion, and does so in a big way, bringing with it the retirement of legendary heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko.
Fedor has the opportunity this Saturday to do something few retiring fighters ever get to do — challenge for gold in the final bout of their career. The former Pride champion, a dominant force in the Japanese organization and undefeated for a decade, struggled when transitioning to western promotions, first in Strikeforce and later Bellator. But after falling short in the organization’s heavyweight grand prix, Fedor gets his chance for revenge — and a chance to avenge his loss to the man who defeated him for the title, Ryan Bader.
Ryan Bader has been all but overlooked ahead of the event, despite being the promotion’s reigning heavyweight champion and a former double-champ. But Bader also acknowledged this week that he was unquestionably the villain of the piece.
Entering the cage ahead of Bader vs. Fedor 2 was the promotion’s middleweight champ, Johnny Eblen. After claiming gold in what can only be considered an upset opposite Gegard Mousasi last year, Eblen had draw Emelianenko teammate Anatoly Tokov for his first title defense.
Bellator 290 takes place live at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles (Inglewood), California on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The preliminary card kicks off at 5:55PM ET, and can be viewed up. Where available, the main card streams live below. Full results can also be found below.
Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 Results
Main card
Ryan Bader def. Fedor Emelianenko by TKO, Round 1, 2:30 – for the Bellator MMA heavyweight championship
Johnny Eblen (c) def. Anatoly Tokov by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) – for the Bellator MMA middleweight championship
Brennan Ward def. Sabah Homasi by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 2, 1:34
Post-Liminary card
Yusuf Karakaya def. Ethan Hughes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Isaiah Hokit def. Peter Ishiguro by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jaylon Bates def. Jornel Lugo by split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
Neiman Gracie def. Dante Shiro by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
Preliminary card
Lorenz Larkin def. Mukhamed Berkhamov by KO (elbow), Round 1, 1:41
Henry Corrales def. Akhmed Magomedov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ali Isaev vs. Steve Mowry ends in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Chris Gonzalez def. Max Rohskopf by TKO (strikes), Round 2, 1:22
Grant Neal def. Karl Albrektsson by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Diana Avsaragova def. Alejandra Lara by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Nikita Mikhailov def. Darrion Caldwell by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
