Bellator 290: Breaking down the Main Event – Bader vs Emelianenko
Return of MMA to CBS
MMA is set to return to CBS this Saturday with Bellator 290 as the first card to air on the network in over a decade. The event will take place at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, and it features two championship fights, as well as a slew of exciting bouts from top to bottom.
Defense of Bellator Heavyweight Championship
In the main event, Ryan Bader will defend his Bellator heavyweight championship against Fedor Emelianenko in what will be the final fight in Emelianenko’s legendary career.
Recap of previous fight
The pair met previously, with Bader scoring a 35-second TKO victory to win the then-vacant championship and the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix.
Co-Main Event: Johnny Eblen vs. Anatoly Tokov
In the co-main event, undefeated Johnny Eblen will defend his middleweight title against Anatoly Tokov. Eblen won the belt with a dominant performance against Gegard Mousasi in June 2022, and he’s excited for the opportunity to defend his title on a big card on CBS with eyes from all over the world watching.
Exciting Bouts on the Card
Sabah Homasi and Brennan Ward will open the main card, and their fight is sure to get the blood pumping for fans around the world. Homasi has built a reputation as a madman in the cage, and he enters the bout on a two-fight win streak. Ward, meanwhile, returned from a five-year absence in 2022, and he’s finished 11 of the 16 opponents he has beaten in his career.
There are several other exciting bouts on the card, including matchups between Neiman Gracie and Dante Schiro, Mukhamed Berkhamov and Lorenz Larkin, Akhmed Magomedov and Henry Corrales, and many others.
Staff Predictions and Picks
The latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook are available for all of the fights, and CBS Sports has released predictions and picks for the main event and co-main event.
Conclusion
Bellator President Scott Coker is proud of the hard work put into this event and is excited to showcase the best fight roster they’ve ever had. With a massive main event and a stacked card from top to bottom, Bellator 290 is sure to be a night to remember for MMA fans everywhere.
Read our next article:
