Pros react after Ryan Bader TKO’s Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290

Tonight’s Bellator 290 main event featured a heavyweight title fight rematch between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader.

The MMA legend and arguably greatest heavyweight of all time, Emelianenko (40-7 MMA), was making his final cage appearance this evening. ‘The Last Emperor‘ entered the matchup coming off back-to-back first-round knockout victories over Timothy Johnson and Quinton Jackson. Those wins were preceded by a TKO loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 214, in a bout that had lasted just 35-seconds.

Meanwhile, Bader (31-7 MMA) was looking to earn the third defense of his Bellator heavyweight title when he rematched Fedor this evening in Inglewood. ‘Darth’ was coming off back-to-back decision wins over Cheick Kongo and Valentin Moldavsky in 2022.

Tonight’s Bellator 290 main event proved to be a one-sided mauling. Ryan Bader scored a knockdown in the early moments of the opening round, dropping Fedor Emelianenko with a right hand. From there, ‘Darth’ proceeded to batter the legend with ground and pound from top position before Herb Dean mercifully stepped in to stop the fight.

Official Bellator 290 Result: Ryan Bader def. Fedor Emelianenko via TKO at 2:30 of Round 1

Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Fedor vs. Bader 2’ below:

I like to think that the ufc is intentionally starting late to give more people a chance to watch Fedor’s retirement fight

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom/status/1622063297095761922

https://twitter.com/DerekBrunson/status/1622071626132082688

https://twitter.com/ALIAQUINTA/status/1622076703521529856

https://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom/status/1622080224316866564

Post-fight reactions to Ryan Bader defeating Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290:

Ryan Bader defeats Fedor for a second time #Bellator290 pic.twitter.com/sLRDGgVslN

— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) February 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/AlanJouban/status/1622082487559262211

Ryan Bader is a bad mfkr

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 5, 2023

#thankyoufedor #Bellator290

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) February 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/bjpenndotcom/status/1622084791226060801

What did you think of Fedor’s final fight this evening in California? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!