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Bellator 290 results: Fedor retires after quick TKO loss to champion Bader

Published

February 5, 2023

Fedor Emelianenko fought his last fight at Bellator 290. Photo via Bellator

Bellator 290 just took place in California and featured a bunch of highly interesting fights.

In the heavyweight championship main event, Fedor Emelianenko entered the cage for the last time to take on reigning champion Ryan Bader.

However, just as in their first fight back in 2019, Bader was a number too big for Fedor.

In the first round, the American landed a heavy right that send “The Last Emperor” to the canvas, and finished him with heavy ground-and-pound. After two minutes and 30 seconds, Bader stood as the winner by first-round TKO.

RYAN. DARTH. BADER.

He successfully defends his title and defeats Fedor Emelianenko in the legend's final fight. #Bellator290 pic.twitter.com/aAsgCGlzhP

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 5, 2023

“It was bittersweet. I idolize him like every other MMA fan and fighter coming up,” Bader said in the post-fight interview.

After the fight, Fedor was honored in the cage by MMA legends like Randy Couture, Royce Gracie, Matt Hughes, “Rampage” Jackson, and Frank Shamrock.

“On one side, I’m sad, of course, that I didn’t deliver in the fight like I wanted to,” Emelianenko said. “But on the other, I’m so happy that all these people are here cheering for me, and all these veteran fighters that walked the path with me for almost the last 20 years are here to greet me. I’m very happy. I’m so happy to see all the fighters that are here to support me. Thank you so much.”

Fedor Emelianenko lays down his gloves surrounded by legends!

Tune in to @CBS and @paramountplus NOW. #Bellator290 #Bellator #MMA @BellatorMMA @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/DgXYmEfskx

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) February 5, 2023

"He put this sport on his back. That is a LEGEND right there."

Ryan Bader honors Fedor Emelianenko following his final fight👏 @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/NKR85XnSHZ

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 5, 2023

In the co-main event, Johnny Eblen defended his middleweight title with a unanimous decision win against Anatoly Tokov.

At the Bellator 290 prelims, Swedish light heavyweight Karl Albrektsson suffered a tough split-decision loss to Grant Neal.

Bellator 290 – Official results

Main Card

Ryan Bader def. Fedor via first-round TKO (2:30)
Johnny Eblen def. Anatoly Tokov via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46 x2)
Brennan Ward def. Sabah Homasi via second-round TKO (1:34)

Preliminary Card

Lorenz Larkin def. Mukhamed Berkhamov via first-round KO (1:41)
Henry Corrales def. Akhmed Magomedov via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Steve Mowry vs. Ali Isaev called a draw (28-28 x3)
Chris Gonzalez def. Max Rohskopf via second-round TKO (1:22)
Grant Neal def. Karl Albrektsson via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Diana Avsaragova def. Alejandra Lara via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Nikita Mikhailov def. Darrion Caldwell via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

The following fights took place after the Bellator 290 main event:

Neiman Gracie def. Dante Schiro via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jaylon Bates def. Jornel Lugo via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Isaiah Hokit vs. Peter Ishiguro via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Yusuf Karakaya def. Ethan Hughes via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

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