Emelianenko to fight Bader in retirement bout

Fedor Emelianenko, 1 of the astir iconic mixed martial artists of each time, volition marque the last locomotion of his vocation successful 2023.

Emelianenko, 46, volition situation Bellator MMA heavyweight champion Ryan Bader for the rubric astatine Bellator 290 connected Feb. 4. The lawsuit volition instrumentality spot wrong the Kia Forum successful Inglewood, California and aerial connected CBS. Bellator MMA officials broke the quality with CBSSports.com connected Friday.

"We person been moving tirelessly connected increasing this marque into the planetary powerhouse it is contiguous and a primetime slot connected CBS has ever been 1 of our cardinal objectives," said Bellator president Scott Coker successful a released statement. "With a steadfast roster afloat of galore of the world's precise champion fighters, on with elite up-and-coming prospects and legends of the game, I'm precise excited to showcase this lawsuit connected the most-watched web successful America."

The heavyweight rubric combat volition beryllium a rematch of a bout that took spot successful January 2019. Bader (30-7) won via TKO successful conscionable 35 seconds, and became a two-division champion successful Bellator. He has held that heavyweight loop since 2019, though helium mislaid his 205-pound airy heavyweight rubric to Vadim Nemkov the pursuing year.

Emelianenko (40-6) has been warring professionally since 2000. He was erstwhile wide considered the top combatant of each time, having started his vocation with a grounds of 30-1. He is mostly known arsenic the erstwhile heavyweight king of Pride Fighting Championship, though helium besides won titles successful Affliction and Strikeforce. The UFC made respective attempts to motion Emelianenko during his legendary career, but the 2 sides were incapable to travel to a deal.

Emelianenko fights retired of Stary Oskol, Russia. He antecedently retired from MMA successful 2012, but elected to instrumentality to the athletics successful 2015. He won his past 2 fights via first-round knockout against Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Tim Johnson.