Ryan Bader, red gloves, raises his hand after defeating Fedor Emelianenko,blue gloves, during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ryan Bader, red gloves, connects to the head of Fedor Emelianenko,blue gloves, knocking him to the ground during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fedor Emelianenko walks to the cage for the last time to face Ryan Bader during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fedor Emelianenko takes a photo with MMA pioneers after his heavyweight championship fight against champion Ryan Bader during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Ryan Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ryan Bader, red gloves, has his hand raised by referee Herb Dean as Fedor Emelianenko, blue gloves, looks on during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ryan Bader, red gloves, hugs Fedor Emelianenko, blue gloves, after defeating him during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ryan Bader, red gloves, hits Fedor Emelianenko,blue gloves, during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fedor Emelianenko waves to fans before facing Ryan Bader during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ryan Bader, red gloves, hits Fedor Emelianenko,blue gloves, during their heavyweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The fight was the last for Emelianenko’s career and he was defeated by Bader by first round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, takes Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, down during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, reacts after defeating Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, takes Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, down during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, reacts after defeating Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, lands a punch to the face of Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, lands a body kick to the midsection of Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, lands a punch to the face of Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, lands a punch to the face of Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, lands a punch to the face of Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, reacts after knocking out Mukhamed Berkhamov, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Lorenz won the bout via first round knockout. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Corrales won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Corrales won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Brennan Ward, blue gloves, lands a knee to the head of Sabah Homasi, red gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sabah Homasi, red gloves, vs.Brennan Ward, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Ward won the bout via second round TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Brennan Ward throws a head kick that led to his second-round TKO victory over Sabah Homasi at Bellator 290 on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at The Forum in Inglewood. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lorenz Larkin watches Mukhamed Berkhamov fall to the canvas after knocking him out with an elbow at Bellator 290 on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at The Forum in Inglewood. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lorenz Larkin, red gloves, watches Mukhamed Berkhamov, blue gloves, fall to the canvas after knocking him out during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Lorenz won the bout via first round knockout. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Akhmed Magomedov, red gloves, vs. Henry Corrales, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Corrales won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Steve Mowry, red gloves, vs. Ali Isaev, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The pair fought to a draw. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Steve Mowry, red gloves, vs. Ali Isaev, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. The pair fought to a draw. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, reacts after defeating Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Chris Gonzalez, red gloves, vs. Max Rohskopf, blue gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Gonzalez won the bout via round 2 TKO. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Nikita Mikhailov vs. Darrion Caldwell during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Mikhailov won the fight by judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Karl Albrektsson, blue gloves vs. Grant Neal, red gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Neal won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Alejandra Lara, red gloves, vs. Diana Avsaragova, blue, gloves, during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Avsaragova won the bout via judges decision. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
INGLEWOOD — Ryan Bader knew his role was to be the bad guy … again.
The Bellator heavyweight champion sent the legendary Fedor Emelianenko into retirement with a first-round TKO victory in the Bellator 290 main event Saturday at The Forum.
“It’s not even the wins, it’s being able to compete against that man,” Bader (31-7, 1 NC) said in his postfight interview.
Emelianenko, 46, had announced this would be his last fight after a glorious 22-year career in which he is regarded as the great heavyweight of all time. And the Russian superstar was hoping to go out a champion with some revenge on the side.
Nearly four years ago in the same building, Bader extinguished Emelianenko’s run through the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix by knocking him out in 35 seconds at Bellator 214 on Jan. 26, 2019.
Going into this swan-song fight, Emelianenko (40-7, 1 NC) was coming off two first-round victories, but Bader proved to again be the tougher man.
After some back and forth, with the champion looking quicker and popping the challenger with a stiff jab that opened a cut on the bridge of his nose, Bader, 39, sent Emelianenko to the canvas with a clubbing blow near the back of the head. The champ pounced and unleashed a flurry of punches and hammerfists before Emelianenko moved to his right side.
From there, Bader cranked several lefts to Emelianenko’s head and face, leading to the inevitable as referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop it after just 2 minutes, 30 seconds.
Bader, the former light heavyweight champion who became a double champion with his first win over Emelianenko, is now 6-0 with 1 no contest as a heavyweight and has made three successful title defenses. What’s more, he is the only man to defeat Emelianenko twice.
But the night – which Bader clearly understood – belonged to Emelianenko, whose right eye appeared to take significant damage.
On one side, Emelianenko said through an interpreter, he was sad to lose. On the other side, he was happy for all the fans and legends that came to cheer him on.
Former greats Rampage Jackson, Mark Coleman, Chael Sonnen, Josh Barnett, Randy Couture, Royce and Renzo Gracie, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell and Frank Shamrock all were in the ring after the fight to honor “The Last Emperor,” who laid his gloves down in the middle of the ring to a standing ovation.
“I’m gonna dedicate my time to … my coaching, to my team,” Emelianenko said before referring to his peers in the cage. “You know all of these guys understand me. You know we’re almost the same age. We’ve all been through the highs and so I’m happy that they’re here to support me.”
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, reacts after defeating Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Eblen slams Tokov: Middleweight champion Johnny Eblen appeared to gain momentum as the fight went on, scooping and slamming his way to a unanimous-decision victory over Anatoly Tokov in the co-main event.
His right eye nearly swollen shut, Eblen put an exclamation point on his victory with a stunning back-to-belly suplex in the final minute of the fifth round.
The judges scored it 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 for the 185-pound titleholder, who was making his first title defense.
Johnny Eblen, red gloves, takes Anatoly Tokov, blue gloves, down during their middleweight championship fight during Bellator 290: Bader vs. Fedor 2 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, CA, Saturday, Feb 4, 2023. Eblen defeated Tokov by judges decision to retain his title. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Eblen, 31, was coming off one of the biggest upsets of 2022, winning every round for a clean-sweep unanimous decision of champion Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 in June. And he turned away Tokov (31-3), who was on a seven-fight winning streak.
While the first two rounds were fairly close, Eblen (13-0) began imposing his will in the third round, locking his hands around Tokov’s waist and refusing to let go. He punished the Russian against the cage if not taking him down and drilling him repeatedly before Tokov got to this feet halfway through.
The champ scored another takedown in the opening minute of the fourth round and began grinding away on the 32-year-old Tokov, his constant pressure and occasional strikes wearing on his opponent.
After a tentative start to the fifth, with both standing in the middle of the cage, Eblen shot and scored a takedown with less than three minutes left. He followed that with two scoops and slams and another takedown as Tokov was unable to free himself from the champ’s grasp.
Brennan Ward throws a head kick that led to his second-round TKO victory over Sabah Homasi at Bellator 290 on Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at The Forum in Inglewood. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ward works over Homasi: In a welterweight expected to be loaded with violence, Brennan Ward and Sabah Homasi came through.
Ward, however, needed less than seven minutes to shake off an unsteady opening round to pound Homasi for a TKO victory at 1:34 of the second round.
Bloodied under his left eye and nearly knocked out in the first round, Ward (17-6) came on strong toward the end of the round and opened up a cut on Homasi’s head. In the second round, Ward saw and smelled blood and continued to pour it on.
As Homasi (17-11) retreated toward the cage, Ward rocked him with a head kick to the left side of the jaw. Homasi went down and Ward jumped on him to earn the stoppage.
