The end of Fedor Emelianenko’s illustrious career may be nearing but not before he gets one last shot at championship glory.
Bellator MMA has announced “The Last Emperor” will challenge Ryan Bader for the Bellator Heavyweight title in the main event of Bellator 290. The bout is a rematch from the Heavyweight Grand Prix finals in 2019 where Bader won by knockout in thirty-five seconds.
Emelianenko has since regrouped to work his way back up the ladder. Eleven months after the loss to Bader, Fedor got back in the win column knocking out Rampage Jackson. Last October the 46-year-old surprised many by knocking out top contender Tim Johnson.
Bader returned to the Heavyweight division in 2022 after competing in the Light-Heavyweight Grand Prix. At Bellator 273 Bader unified Heavyweight titles by beating interim champion Valentin Moldavsky a Fedor protegee. The desire for revenge for not just himself but his camp couldn’t be bigger for the Russian Legend. In May the Arizona fighter successfully defended his title out grappling Chick Kongo.
The event is set for February 4th at the Kia Forum in Inglewood California and will be broadcasted on CBS.
It was also announced that the winner of the Bellator 288 main event between Vadim Nemkov & Corey Anderson will defend the Bellator Light-Heavyweight title against Yoel Romero. Romero has collected consecutive third round finishes of Alex Polizzi & Melvin Manhoef.
