NemKov injured, Eblen Booked to defend at Bellator 290
Bellator 290 will feature two title fights, just not the ones we expected.
An undisclosed injury has forced Vadim Nemkov to withdraw from a planned title defense against Cuban Olympian Yoel Romero. With the loss also comes an addition to the card. Unbeatenchampion Johnny Eblen will make his first defense of the Bellator Middleweight against Team Fedor’s number three ranked contender Anatoly Tokov.
Bellator 290 takes place on February 4th at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
In 2022 Johnny Eblen has the biggest year of his professional career. It started out by beating fellow grappler and top contender John Salter in March. And reached a pinnacle as he dethroned Gegard Mousasi in June to become the new Middleweight king of Bellator. A decorated Sambo practitioner Tokov joined Bellator MMA in 2017. A former ACB champion, Tokov is 7-0 in Bellator with five finishes including a win over former champion Alexander Shlemenko.
Along with Fedor Emelianenko challenging Ryan Bader for the Bellator Heavyweight title. The main card is also scheduled to see a sure fire banger as Sabah Homasi collides with Brennan Ward.
BELLATOR 290: BADER VS. FEDOR 2 MAIN CARD:
CBS and Paramount +
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 — 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
- Heavyweight World Title Main Event: (champ) Ryan Bader (30-7, 1 NC) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (40-6, 1 NC)
- Middleweight World Title Co-Main Event: (champ) Johnny Eblen (12-0) vs. Anatoly Tokov (31-3)
- Welterweight Bout: Sabah Homasi (17-10) vs. Brennan Ward (16-6)
BELLATOR 290: BADER VS. FEDOR 2 PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | Pluto TV
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
- Welterweight Bout: Neiman Gracie (11-4) vs. Michael Lombardo (13-3, 1 NC)
- Bantamweight Bout: Jaylon Bates (6-0) vs. Jornel Lugo (8-1)
- Featherweight Bout: Henry Corrales (20-6) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (9-0, 1 NC)
- Light Heavyweight Bout: Grant Neal (7-1) vs. Karl Albrektsson (13-4)
- Lightweight Bout: Chris Gonzalez (7-2) vs. Max Rohskopf (7-1)
- Flyweight Bout: Alejandra Lara (9-6) vs. Diana Avsaragova (5-0)
- Welterweight Bout: Ethan Hughes (3-0) vs. Yusuf Karakaya (1-0)
*Card subject to change.
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