BELLATOR 290 was a night that will be remembered for multiple reasons, as Ryan Bader successfully defended his BELLATOR Heavyweight World Championship in what also served as Fedor Emelianenko’s final fight as a professional.
The first-ever BELLATOR card on CBS and Paramount+ also saw legends the likes of: Chael Sonnen, Matt Hughes, Rampage Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Josh Barnett, Royce Gracie, Mark Coleman, Renzo Gracie, send “The Last Emperor” off as he laid down his BELLATOR gloves to signify his final fight.
Fedor Emelianenko’s distinguished 23-year career ended in defeat as Ryan Bader secured a first-round stoppage to retain his heavyweight title at Bellator 290 in Inglewood, California.
Bader, 39, dropped Emelianeko, 46, with a right hand before finishing the contest with ground and pound.
Following the defeat he was joined in the cage by a host of former opponents and fellow MMA greats including Randy Couture, Mark Coleman and Dan Henderson, before laying his gloves on the canvas.
In the co-main event of the CBS-televised card, undefeated middleweight champion Johnny Elben remained unbeaten, defeating Team Fedor’s Anatoly Tokov via unanimous decision to retain his belt. There is now little doubt that the American Top Team-product is one of the most elite 185-pounders on the planet.
The first-ever BELLATOR fight on CBS saw “Irish” Brennan Ward return to the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. and stop Sabah Homasi via TKO in the second round. The Connecticut mainstay made it clear he would like to fight Dalton Rosta in his next BELLATOR outing.
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Fedor Retirement Comments
“I feel great. He hit me a few times, but I didn’t lose consciousness. I felt everything.
I was really happy to see all the legends, all the fighters. With some of them I shared the ring, with some of them I was watching and learning from them. It was great to have them come and support me.
I’m getting older, my age. Plus all my injuries from the past, they start to remind me of them. My body doesn’t feel the same way as it used to.
The only thing, I could have beat Ryan Bader, but it didn’t happen.
It’s a part of my life. One of the most important parts of my life.
Basically, I’m very happy and very excited it happened here. Right from the beginning we were discussing it was going to be 3 fights. Russia, Japan and the last one in the United States.
Thanks God, everything is great. The money comes and goes, so you never know what will happen. I still have my arms and my legs, so I can work if I have to.
It doesn’t matter if I win or lose, that’s how it supposed to happen. You saw today, the whole arena was cheering for me. So, I really hope that I keep my popularity and my fanbase based on my actions in the cage, not because I was trash talking my opponents.”
BELLATOR 290: BADER VS. FEDOR 2 MAIN CARD RESULTS:
Champion – Ryan Bade (31-7) def Fedor Emelianenko (40-7) via TKO (punches) at 2:30 of Rd1
Champion – Johnny Eblen (13-0) def Anatoly Tokov (31-3) via UD (50-45,49-46,49-46)
Brennan Ward (16-6) defeated #8-Sabah Homasi (17-11) via TKO (strikes) at 1:34 of round two
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Yusuf Karakaya (2-0) defeated Ethan Hughes (3-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Isaiah Hokit (3-1) defeated Peter Ishiguro (2-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jaylon Bates (7-0) defeated Jornel Lugo (8-2) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Neiman Gracie (12-7) def Dante Schiro (9-5) via UD (30-27,30-27,30-27)
Lorenz Larkin (25-7) def Mukhamed Berkhamov (14-1) via TKO at 1:41 of RD1
Henry Corrales (21-6) defeated Akhmed Magomedov (10-2, 1 NC) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Steve Mowry (10-0-1) and Ali Isaev (9-0-1) Unanimous Draw (28-28,28-28,28-28)
Chris Gonzalez (8-1) defeated Max Rohskopf (7-3) via TKO (punches) at 1:22 of round two
Grant Neal (8-1) def Karl Albrektsson (13-4) via SD (29-28,28-29,29-28)
Diana Avsaragova (6-0) defeated Alejandra Lara (9-7) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Nikita Mikhailov (10-2) defeated Darrion Caldwell (15-7) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
BELLATOR returns to action on Feb. 25 from Dublin with a Welterweight World Championship rematch between interim champion Logan Storley and the returning Yaroslav Amosov.
Image Credit Bellator
