"The Last Emperor" walks to the cage one final time on Saturday night when Fedor Emelianenko fights the last fight of his career against heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 290. The event will air live on CBS, marking the first time since 2010 that the network has aired a mixed martial arts card.
In 2019, Bader defeated Emelianenko by TKO in just 35 seconds, capturing the heavyweight title and winning the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix. The win also made Bader a two-division champion at the time, though he has since lost the light heavyweight title.
"When I first started my career, I had just switched over from judo competitions to professional fights. It was just the beginning, going to the gym. I had to learn what to do because it was all new to me," Emelianenko said. "I was watching VHS tapes from the last tournaments of MMA. When I watched the champions, I figured out that I was going to be able to compete with them at the highest level. It wasn't something I couldn't do; I just had to work hard. I never expected or imagined that I would have the career that I had. I just was trying to fight and be prepared as best as I could and win every fight."
The co-main event features middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defending his title against Anatoly Tokov.
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Elsewhere on the card, Sabah Homasi and Brennan Ward are sure to get the blood pumping for fans around the world when they open the main card. Homasi has built a reputation as a madman inside the cage with five of his last seven bouts ending in a finish. He enters on a two-fight win streak with hopes of joining the short list of title contenders at welterweight. Ward, meanwhile, returned from a five-year absence in 2022 as he battled drug and alcohol addiction. He scored a pair of TKO wins as he has finished 11 of the 16 opponents he has beaten in his career.
Below is all the information you need to catch UFC 283 on Saturday night.
How to watch Bellator 290 prelims
Date: Feb. 4 | Location: Kia Forum -- Inglewood, California
Start time: 6 p.m. ET for prelims
Stream: YouTube (watch here)
How to watch Bellator 290 main card
Date: Feb. 4 | Location: Kia Forum -- Inglewood, California
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS | Stream: Paramount Plus
Now, here's a look at the Bellator 290 main fight card and betting odds via Caesars Sportsbook.
Bellator 290 main card, odds
| Favorite | Underdog | Weightclass |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Bader (c) -330 | Fedor Emelianenko +260 | Heavyweight title |
| Johnny Eblen (c) -300 | Anatoly Tokov +240 | Middleweight title |
| Sabah Homasi -190 | Brennan Ward +160 | Welterweights |
