Bellator 290 – Fedor Emelianenko books retirement title rematch with Ryan Bader on Feb. 4.

Bellator MMA heavyweight contender, Fedor Emelianenko has booked an undisputed division title fight rematch against current champion, Ryan Bader on February 4. at Bellator 290 – in what is touted as the Russian’s retirement fight in professional mixed martial arts.

First fighting current undisputed heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader back in January 2019 atop a Bellator 214 card, Fedor Emelianenko suffered a 35-second knockout loss to the UFC alum in the opening round, in the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix finale. 

In the event’s co-main event, former UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero will challenge the victor of tomorrow night’s light heavyweight title fight between champion, Vadim Nemkov, and challenger, Corey Anderson on February 4. CBS Sports reporter, Shakiel Mahjouri was first to report the Bellator 290 main event and co-main event. 

Attempting his third successful defense of the undisputed heavyweight crown, Bader most recently defeated Cheick Kongo in a title rematch, which followed a prior title unification win over Valentin Moldavsky back in January of this year.

Undefeated in two outings since his loss against Bader back in 2019, Emelianenko, recognised as arguably the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all-time, as well as a former Pride FC champion and Grand Prix victor, has landed knockout wins over both Quinton Jackson, and Timothy Johnson. 

Earning his first title fight under the Bellator MMA banner, Romero stopped the retiring, Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin back in September of this year with a brutal third round barrage of elbow strikes.

Tomorrow’s undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between the aforenoted, Nemkov and Anderson will attempt to provide some separation between the duo, who first fought to a third round official ‘No Contest’ back in April, due to an unintentional clash of heads.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.