Fedor Emelianenko could make historical past in last struggle
Bellator kicks off its 2023 schedule on Saturday with a landmark occasion in firm historical past. Bellator 290, which takes place at The Discussion board in Inglewood, Calif., marks the corporate’s major card community debut on CBS, which follows prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.
A championship doubleheader is about to headline the cardboard. In the primary occasion, Ryan Bader (30-7 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) will put his heavyweight title struggle towards MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko (40-6 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), who is about to retire from MMA competitors. The pair beforehand met at Bellator 214 in January 2019, with Bader scoring a 35-second TKO victory.
The co-headliner of the cardboard, in the meantime, will see middleweight champion Johnny Eblen (12-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) try to make his first title protection when he welcomes challenger Anatoly Tokov (31-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), who has misplaced simply as soon as over the previous 11 years.
For extra on the numbers behind the occasion, verify under for MMA Junkie’s pre-event details for Bellator 290.
Ryan Bader
Ryan Bader
Bader grew to become the primary simultaneous two-division champion in Bellator historical past when he received at Bellator 214 in January 2019.
Bader is the one champion in Bellator historical past to register title defenses in two weight courses.
Bader is one among two simultaneous two-division champions in Bellator historical past. Patricio Freire additionally achieved the feat.
Bader is one among three fighters in Bellator historical past to win titles in two weight courses. Freire and Joe Warren additionally achieved the feat.
Bader’s three consecutive title defenses are tied with Vadim Nemkov for second-most amongst present Bellator champions behind Cris Cyborg (4).
Bader is 5-0 (with one no contest) since he moved as much as the heavyweight division in Could 2018.
Bader’s six-fight Bellator unbeaten streak in heavyweight competitors is the longest energetic streak within the division.
Bader competes within the fifth rematch of his profession. He’s earlier 4-0 when dealing with an opponent for the second time.
Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
Emelianenko, 46, is the oldest energetic fighter on the Bellator roster.
Emelianenko, at 46, can turn out to be the oldest champion in Bellator historical past.
Emelianenko is 6-2 since he returned from his first retirement in December 2015.
Emelianenko is 9-2 (with one no contest) in his profession when dealing with former UFC champions.
Emelianenko has earned 32 of his 40 profession victories by stoppage.
Emelianenko has earned all 4 of his Bellator victories by first-round knockout.
Emelianenko’s 4 knockout victories in Bellator heavyweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Tyrell Fortune (eight) and Vitaly Minakov (5).
Johnny Eblen
Johnny Eblen
Eblen’s eight-fight Bellator successful streak at middleweight is the longest energetic streak within the division.
Eblen has earned six of his eight Bellator victories by choice.
Anatoly Tokov
Anatoly Tokov
Tokov’s seven-fight Bellator successful streak in middleweight competitors is the second-longest energetic streak within the division behind Eblen (eight).
Tokov is 24-1 in his previous 25 fights courting again to April 2012.
Tokov has earned 24 of his 31 profession victories by stoppage. That features 5 of his seven Bellator wins.
Sabah Homasi vs. Brennan Ward
Sabah Homasi
[autotag]Sabah Homasi[/autotag] (17-10 MMA, 5-4 BMMA) has earned 14 of his 17 profession victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 11-6 BMMA) has earned 15 of his 16 profession victories by stoppage.
Ward’s 11 stoppage victories in Bellator competitors are tied for fifth-most in firm historical past.
Neiman Gracie vs. Dante Schiro
Neiman Gracie
[autotag]Neiman Gracie[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 9-4 BMMA) enters the occasion on the primary shedding skid of his profession. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2021.
Gracie is 8-4 since he dropped to the welterweight division in February 2015.
Gracie’s seven submission victories in Bellator competitors are tied with A.J. McKee for second-most in firm historical past behind Goiti Yamauchi (9).
Gracie’s six submission victories in Bellator welterweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
Lorenz Larkin vs. Mukhamed Berkhamov
Lorenz Larkin
[autotag]Lorenz Larkin[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) is 7-3 with one no contest since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2015.
Larkin’s five-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at welterweight is tied for the third-longest longest energetic streak within the division behind Amosov (six) and Davis (six).
Steve Mowry vs. Ali Isaev
Steve Mowry
[autotag]Steve Mowry[/autotag]’s (10-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) seven-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at heavyweight is the longest energetic streak within the division.
Mowry’s six victories in Bellator heavyweight competitors are tied for third-most in divisional historical past behind Cheick Kongo (13) and Fortune (12).
Mowry has earned all 10 of his profession victories by stoppage.
Mowry’s six stoppage victories in Bellator heavyweight competitors are tied for second-most in divisional historical past behind Fortune (9).
Mowry’s 4 submission victories in Bellator heavyweight competitors are most in divisional historical past.
Diana Avsaragova vs. Alejandra Lara
Diana Avsaragova
[autotag]Diana Avsaragova[/autotag] (5-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) three-fight Bellator successful streak at girls’s flyweight is tied for the third-longest energetic streak within the division behind Liz Carmouche (5) and Sumiko Inaba (5).
[autotag]Alejandra Lara[/autotag]’s (9-6 MMA, 3-5 BMMA) three-fight shedding skid is the longest of her profession. She hasn’t earned a victory since December 2019.
Darrion Caldwell vs. Nikita Mikhailov
Darrion Caldwell
[autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag]’s (15-6 MMA, 12-5 BMMA) three-fight shedding skid is the longest of his profession. He hasn’t earned a victory since January 2020.
Caldwell is 2-5 in his previous seven fights courting again to December 2018.
Caldwell’s three submission victories in Bellator bantamweight competitors are third-most in divisional historical past behind Patchy Combine (4) and Jaylon Bates (4).
Jaylon Bates vs. Jornel Lugo
Jaylon Bates
autotag]Jaylon Bates[/autotag]’ (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) six-fight Bellator successful streak at bantamweight is the second-longest energetic streak within the division behind Raufeon Stots (seven).
Bates’ 4 stoppage victories in Bellator bantamweight competitors are tied with Combine and Eduardo Dantas for many in divisional historical past.
Bates’ 4 submission victories in Bellator bantamweight competitors are tied with Combine for many in divisional historical past.
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for Bellator 290.