Bellator 214 ‘Fedor vs Bader’ Recap & Highlights!

Bellator 214 ‘Fedor vs Bader’ aired Sat. night (Jan. 26, 2019) from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. MMA Mania brings you a post-fight recap, results, .gifs and interview highlights from a card where Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader fought for the 265 lb. crown!

Bellator 214: “Fedor vs. Bader” aired last night (Sat., Jan. 26, 2019) via Paramount Network from The Forum in Inglewood, California. A year long Heavyweight Grand Prix came to its epic conclusion as Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) and Light Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (26-5) fought to crown a new 265 lb. champion.

Just 35 seconds in the fight and the imitable Mike Goldberg would be yelling “IT IS ALL OVER!” Bader clipped Emelianenko with a lead left hook, followed up with a right hand as Fedor was falling down, and got two more lefts flush before referee Mike Beltran had to save him. Take a look!

Bader spoke to John McCarthy afterward.

“Yeah look I had a great night but first and foremost please give it up for that man (Fedor), one of the best to ever do it, competing against that man I have a ton of respect for him. I’m fighting Fedor, one of the greatest of all time, it’s surreal — ton of respect for him where he’s at to keep fighting. What a night. He was setting up that right hand, I beat him to the punch. My team and I gotta get with Bellator, figure out where we want to be, I want to defend both for sure. Thanks to Scott Coker and the brass for putting this tournament together.”

Featherweight sensation Aaron Pico (4-1), winner of four straight fights, sought to prove his credentials one more time against a more experienced opponent in Henry “OK” Corrales (16-3). Even though Pico is known for his incredible stopping power, and did momentarily rock Corrales with an uppercut, when the two did a mutual clinch and started throwing haymakers like a throwback bar brawl it was Corrales who landed the killer right hand that made Pico fall back unconscious at 1:07.

A stern looking Corrales spoke to “Big” John McCarthy after the BIG win.

“At my best I’ve lived a mediocre life and I’m ready to die {edited out}. You know what dude? What’s done is done. Respect to Pico and all his people, but who the fuck is next? That’s five straight. I got my shit together in the desert. I’ll go with any of these dudes it doesn’t matter.”

About ten more seconds of shout outs to people were also censored on the broadcast.

A special attraction for the main card saw the man formerly known as Jack Swagger make his pro MMA debut as Jake Hager. To give him his best chance to succeed they paired him with J.W. Kiser (1-1), who didn’t seem to know where or for whom he was fighting. Hager and his friend Ron Killings certainly knew.

Kiser fared slightly better than you’d expect, circling on the outside and connecting with a right hand to the head when Hager shot in, but Hager easily took him down and got on top in half guard. He considered a kimura but didn’t have the leverage for it. He did however succeed with a head and arm choke, getting Kiser to tap out at 2:09 of round one. After his first win Hager spoke with “Big” John McCarthy.

“I feel like hard work pays off!! Perry, Oklahoma STAND UP!!! I was trying to slow everything down in my mind, keep control, I wanted to lay on him all day. I knew I’d get that big elbow in there and it was a matter of time before I’d get that arm triangle. I like it here at Bellator, I plan on this being life for the next decade. As long as you guys want to keep seeing me out here, I’m going to keep bringing it.”

Bantamweights with only two losses between them stepped up for the main card as Juan Archuleta (21-1) faced off with Ricky Bandejas (11-1). There was one clear round for each man. Archuleta constantly switched his stance and knocked Bandejas backward with his surprising charges forward to throw big blows. Bandejas stuffed multiple takedowns in the third round and hurt Archuleta with head kicks throughout the third round. It would be up to the judges to decide it based on a close second round that could’ve gone either way.

All three scored it 29-28 for Juan “The Spaniard” Archuleta by unanimous decision.

“Aw man I knew right away if I was dropping to 135 I had to fight the best in the division and that motherfucker was the best in the division. I snapped my knee in the first round and it gave me problems in there. Hey, hat’s off, respect, Spain I’m coming January 30th to February 12th, I’ll be out there. I knew he’s a stud, a stud wrestler, stud fighter, Caldwell spit shine that thing, Horiguchi if it’s you I’m coming for one of you guys.”

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Rory MacDonald were at cageside to promote the recently announced Bellator card for April 27th. Macfarlane spoke about facing Veta Arteaga.

“This is the best moment of my life and nothing can top that moment but I’m so excited to be back in the cage April 27th. I want to ride that Hawaiian wave and I’m still paddling. Veta let’s get it girl.”

MacDonald talked about facing Jon Fitch in the final opening round bout of the Welterweight Grand Prix with his title on the line.

“His strongest aspect is his wrestling, and his experience as well, but I don’t think that’s going to be enough when fighting a guy who is well rounded. Everywhere he’s strong I can counter that.”

The opening bout of the card was Brandon McMahan vs. Adel Altamimi. Altamimi saw his brothers killed in front of him in Iraq before he was saved by the Marines, and he ultimately received a Bellator contract after training at Jay Glazer’s MVP gym (Merging Vets and Players). He made the most of it by winning via armbar 76 seconds into the fight.

Afterward he spoke to John McCarthy with Chris Pratt (yes that Chris Pratt) by his side.

“Man! Ah, a dream come true from Iraq, this is my home. I don’t give up in the war, I don’t give up on God, he never give up on me. This is my brother here. Unbelievable right now. First, this fight is for my dad. He’s going for chemo this week. I did this for him, challenge myself to do this, dad I love you and I know you’ll win too — don’t give up. Teammates call me Uncle Kimura. When I grab it, I’m like it’s done, it’s over with.”

For complete Bellator 214 results and coverage click here.