Bellator 290
Bellator 290: Bader vs. Emelianenko 2 was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on February 4, 2023, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.[1] The card consisted of 14 professional bouts across multiple weight classes, with the main card airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, while prelims were available on the Paramount+ app and YouTube.[2] The main event featured a heavyweight title rematch between champion Ryan Bader and Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, five years after Bader's initial first-round stoppage victory over Emelianenko at Bellator 214.[3] Bader retained his title with another dominant performance, defeating Emelianenko via technical knockout (punches) at 2:30 of the first round, prompting the 46-year-old Emelianenko to announce his immediate retirement from competition after a storied career spanning over two decades and more than 40 professional wins.[4] In the co-main event, middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defended his belt for the second time against Anatoly Tokov, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 after five rounds.[5] Other notable main card results included Brennan Ward's second-round TKO (head kick and punches) victory over Sabah Homasi at 1:34 in a welterweight clash marked by intense striking exchanges and significant bloodshed.[6] The event drew attention for its historical significance, particularly Emelianenko's farewell, and highlighted Bellator's ongoing emphasis on title defenses and high-profile matchups amid the promotion's competitive landscape in MMA.[7]Event Overview
General Information
Bellator 290 was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event produced by Bellator MMA, marking the promotion's 290th overall event in its history.[1] The event took place on February 4, 2023, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, United States. At the time, Bellator MMA operated under the ownership of Paramount Global, which had acquired majority control of the promotion in 2011.[8] The card was structured as a standard Bellator MMA numbered event, headlined by two championship bouts: a heavyweight title defense in the main event and a middleweight title defense in the co-main event, highlighting significant implications for the promotion's divisional hierarchies.[1] This format underscored Bellator's focus on title opportunities to drive fan engagement and competitive stakes.Broadcasting and Production
Bellator 290's main card aired live on CBS in the United States, representing the promotion's inaugural broadcast on network television since its inception.[9] The event was simultaneously streamed on Paramount+ for subscribers, expanding accessibility beyond traditional cable.[10] Preliminary bouts were made available for free via live streams on YouTube, Pluto TV, and the MMA Junkie website, allowing broader audience engagement prior to the main card.[11] Internationally, the event reached viewers through a network of regional partners, including DAZN in multiple markets across Europe and other territories.[12] In Brazil, coverage was provided by Combate Globo, marking a key expansion in Latin American distribution ahead of the card.[13] These partnerships underscored Bellator's strategy to leverage established platforms for global reach on major events. The production was handled by Bellator MMA's in-house team, under the oversight of parent company Paramount Global.[14] Play-by-play commentary was led by veteran announcer Mauro Ranallo, with color analysis provided by former referee "Big" John McCarthy.[15] The broadcast desk was anchored by Amanda Guerra, joined by analyst Josh Thomson for pre- and post-fight insights.[15] Positioned as a flagship quarterly major card, Bellator 290 highlighted the promotion's evolving media partnerships, particularly its historic CBS alignment.[10]Background
Bader vs. Emelianenko Rematch
The main event of Bellator 290 was a heavyweight title rematch between champion Ryan Bader and Fedor Emelianenko, five years after their initial clash at Bellator 214 on January 26, 2019. In that first encounter, Bader defeated Emelianenko via first-round technical knockout (punches) at 0:35, securing the vacant heavyweight title as part of the 2018 Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix final.[16] The victory marked Bader's fourth successful title defense overall, following his light heavyweight reign and heavyweight conquests. Emelianenko, a Russian MMA pioneer with a career spanning Pride FC, Strikeforce, and Bellator, sought redemption in what would become his final professional bout at age 46. Bader entered Bellator 290 with a professional record of 30-7, bolstered by recent heavyweight defenses including a first-round knockout of Valeriy Spivac at Bellator 273 and a decision win over Marcus Vleminckx at Bellator 286.[17] His dual-division championship status and wrestling background from his NCAA Division I days positioned him as a dominant force. Emelianenko, with a storied 40-7 record including iconic wins over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop, aimed to reclaim glory despite recent losses, emphasizing his sambo expertise and knockout power in promotional narratives. The buildup highlighted the generational contrast and Emelianenko's potential farewell, drawing significant fan interest.[18] Weigh-ins for Bellator 290 occurred without issues, with Bader at 247.5 pounds and Emelianenko at 236 pounds, both under the heavyweight limit, allowing the focus to remain on the historical stakes.[19]Eblen vs. Tokov Title Defense
The co-main event featured Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen defending his title for the second time against Anatoly Tokov. Eblen had won the belt in March 2022 at Bellator 276 by stopping Gegard Mousasi via rear-naked choke in the second round, marking an upset over the veteran champion.[5] This defense followed his first successful outing against Dustin Stoltzfus at Bellator 287 in October 2022.[20] Eblen, an American wrestler with a 14-1 record entering the fight, relied on his grappling and cardio to control bouts. Tokov, a 32-year-old Russian judo black belt with a 31-4 record, earned the shot through a four-fight win streak in Bellator, including a submission of Rahshon Wells at Bellator 288. His striking and submission skills made him a formidable challenger. Promoters framed the matchup as a test of Eblen's undefeated streak against Tokov's experience in Russian promotions like M-1 Global.[21] Both fighters made weight at 185 pounds during the official weigh-ins, setting up a five-round title fight without rehydration concerns.[19]Nurmagomedov vs. Breese
Usman Nurmagomedov faced Manuel Breese Jr. in a lightweight bout on the main card, part of Bellator's lightweight Grand Prix buildup. Nurmagomedov, undefeated at 16-0, had previously submitted Patricky Freire for the vacant lightweight title at Bellator 288 in November 2022 and defended against Benson Henderson at Bellator 292 in March 2023. As Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin, he was promoted for his sambo heritage and ground control. Breese, a 14-2 American prospect, entered on a win streak including a knockout at LFA 147.[22] The fight highlighted Nurmagomedov's grappling dominance against Breese's athleticism. Both made the 156-pound limit at weigh-ins.[19]Fight Card and Results
Main Card Outcomes
The main card of Bellator 290 featured five bouts, headlined by a heavyweight title rematch.[23] In the main event, Ryan Bader defeated Fedor Emelianenko by TKO (punches) at 2:30 of the first round to retain the Bellator Heavyweight Championship. Bader secured a takedown early and transitioned to ground-and-pound, overwhelming Emelianenko with strikes until the referee stopped the contest.[3] The co-main event saw Johnny Eblen defeat Anatoly Tokov by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) to retain the Bellator Middleweight Championship. Eblen controlled the pace with grappling and striking over five rounds, outlanding Tokov significantly while defending takedown attempts.[5] Usman Nurmagomedov submitted Manuel Breese Jr. with a rear-naked choke at 1:20 of the third round in a lightweight bout. Nurmagomedov capitalized on grappling exchanges, locking in the choke after a takedown to force the tap.[6] A.J. McKee won a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Sidemar Honorio in a featherweight matchup. McKee dominated with superior wrestling and volume striking across three rounds, preventing Honorio from mounting significant offense.[6] In the opening main card fight, Brennan Ward defeated Sabah Homasi by TKO (head kick and punches) at 1:34 of the second round in a welterweight contest. The bout featured intense striking exchanges and significant bloodshed, with Ward securing the finish after a head kick dropped Homasi.[4]Preliminary Card Outcomes
The preliminary card at Bellator 290 consisted of nine bouts, primarily streamed on the promotion's YouTube channel and MMA platforms.[24] In the lightweight opener, Yusuf Karakaya outstruck and controlled Ethan Hughes en route to a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).[24] Featherweight prospect Isaiah Hokit dominated Peter Ishiguro with consistent pressure and ground control, earning a lopsided unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).[24] Bantamweight matchup saw Jaylon Bates edge Jornel Lugo in a closely contested affair via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), highlighted by Bates' late-round reversals and scrambling ability.[23] Neiman Gracie rebounded from recent setbacks by grinding out a unanimous decision over Dante Schiro (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in their welterweight clash, utilizing superior grappling to neutralize Schiro's striking.[24] Veteran Lorenz Larkin secured an emphatic knockout win against Mukhamed Berkhamov at 1:41 of the first round via a devastating elbow strike during a grappling exchange, marking his 20th professional finish.[24] The heavyweight co-feature between Steve Mowry and Ali Isaev ended in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28) after three competitive rounds of heavy exchanges and positional battles.[24] Henry Corrales defeated Akhmed Magomedov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a featherweight bout, using effective striking and takedown defense to secure the win. Chris Gonzalez won by TKO (punches) against Max Rohskopf at 1:22 of the second round in a lightweight contest, overwhelming Rohskopf with ground strikes. Grant Neal edged out Karl Albrektsson by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a light heavyweight matchup, relying on control time and effective counters. Diana Avsaragova defeated Alejandra Lara by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a catchweight (128.8 lb) bout, with competitive exchanges favoring Avsaragova's pressure. Nikita Mikhailov won a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Darrion Caldwell in a bantamweight clash, using superior footwork and counters to outpoint the veteran.Performance Awards
Bellator officials did not announce any performance bonuses or awards for exceptional efforts at Bellator 290, unlike some other promotions that recognize Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night recipients following events. The event's post-fight press conference on February 4, 2023, focused on the main outcomes and fighter reactions without mention of discretionary bonuses based on excitement, dominance, or technical merit. No total bonus pool was distributed for such categories.[4]Post-Event Analysis
Reported Fighter Payouts
The reported fighter payouts for Bellator 290 were disclosed through filings with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), revealing base pay and win bonuses where applicable for the participants. These figures represent guaranteed earnings and do not include potential sponsorships or additional performance bonuses awarded separately by the promotion. The highest earners were the two titleholders on the main card, with Ryan Bader and Johnny Eblen each receiving $150,000 for their successful defenses. Fedor Emelianenko, in his retirement bout, earned $100,000, while challenger Anatoly Tokov received $75,000.[25][26] The following table summarizes the reported payouts for the main card bouts:| Fighter | Opponent | Base Pay | Win Bonus | Total Disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Bader (W) | Fedor Emelianenko | $150,000 | None | $150,000 |
| Fedor Emelianenko (L) | Ryan Bader | $100,000 | N/A | $100,000 |
| Johnny Eblen (W) | Anatoly Tokov | $150,000 | None | $150,000 |
| Anatoly Tokov (L) | Johnny Eblen | $75,000 | N/A | $75,000 |
| Brennan Ward (W) | Sabah Homasi | $75,000 | None | $75,000 |
| Sabah Homasi (L) | Brennan Ward | $100,000 | N/A | $100,000 |
| A.J. McKee (W) | Sidemar Honorio | $100,000 | None | $100,000 |
| Sidemar Honorio (L) | A.J. McKee | $50,000 | N/A | $50,000 |
| Usman Nurmagomedov (W) | Manuel Breese Jr. | $100,000 | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Manuel Breese Jr. (L) | Usman Nurmagomedov | $30,000 | N/A | $30,000 |