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Mirko Cro Cop wishes Fedor Emelianenko luck ahead of retirement fight at Bellator 290: ‘The greatest of all time’

Ahead of his mixed martial arts competition swansong tonight at Bellator 290, former Pride FC heavyweight Grand Prix victor, Fedor Emelianenko has received praise and plaudits from past opponent, Mirko Cro Cop – with the Croat wishing the former luck ahead of his heavyweight championship rematch against Ryan Bader. Cro Cop, a former Pride FC, […]

Cro Cop, a former Pride FC, Rizin, and K-1 World Grand Prix victor, who shared the squared circle with Russian icon, Emelianenko back in the Pride FC 2005 heavyweight Grand Prix finale, suffered a unanimous decision loss to the former.

Tonight, however, Emelianenko, recognized as arguably the greatest heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter of all-time – as well as widely considered as one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the sport, bows out in a championship rematch against the aforenoted, Bader, attempting to avenge a 2019, knockout loss inside just 35-seconds.

Headlining Bellator 290 tonight on CBS in Inglewood, California – a who’s who of mixed martial arts pioneers, icons, and folklore will honor Fedor Emelianenko following his final walk, with Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, Renzo Gracie, Royce Gracie, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes, Rampage Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Frank Shamrock, and Chael Sonnen all slated to be in attendance.

Fedor Emelianenko receives message of support from Mirko Cro Cop

A past opponent of Emelianenko – the aforenoted, Cro Cop wished the Russian well ahead of his title showdown with Bader – as well as listing him as the greatest fighter to ever compete in professional mixed martial arts.

“Tomorrow early in the morning after his last fight, the last Pride’s giant and champion, Fedor Emelianenko, will leave the battle scene!” Mirko Cro Cop posted on his official Instagram. “For me, the greatest and most complete MMA fighter of all time. It was a pleasure and privileged to share the ring with him once and to share the same dressing room many times in the Saitama Arena. Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s match, for me and many others, you remain forever the icon of free fighting and the GOAT. Good luck, Fedor.”

Watch: Best Finishes From Fighters Appearing At Bellator 290

Bellator will kick things off in 2023 this weekend as an MMA legend says goodbye at Bellator 290. Fedor Emelianenko will compete in what is likely his last fight in MMA at Bellator 290 against Ryan Bader. It is a rematch of their previous heavyweight t…

Continue Reading Watch: Best Finishes From Fighters Appearing At Bellator 290 at MMA News.

Johnny Eblen Vs. Anatoly Tokov Added To Bellator 290, MMA Twitter Reacts

Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen will face Anatoly Tokov in the Bellator 290 co-main event on February 4th. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the news of the Eblen/Tokov booking. The Bellator 290 co-headliner was originally …

Continue Reading Johnny Eblen Vs. Anatoly Tokov Added To Bellator 290, MMA Twitter Reacts at MMA News.

Fedor Emelianenko retirement fight set for Bellator 290 on February 4th vs. Ryan Bader

After nearly 23 years, Russian combat sports legend ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko will retire in 2023. Stepping into the cage one more time, Emelianenko will take on reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 on February 4th, 2023. Emanating from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, the card will air live on […]

After nearly 23 years, Russian combat sports legend ‘The Last Emperor’ Fedor Emelianenko will retire in 2023.

Stepping into the cage one more time, Emelianenko will take on reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader at Bellator 290 on February 4th, 2023. Emanating from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, the card will air live on CBS. It will be the first time Bellator will feature on network television and the first time CBS has aired an MMA event in over a decade.

The fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader will be a rematch of their January 2019 bout during the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix tournament final. Bader scored a 35-second knockout against ‘The Last Emperor’ to capture the then-vacant heavyweight championship. Already the holder of Bellator’s light heavyweight title, ‘Darth’ Bader became a two-division champion with his destruction of Emelianenko.

MMA is back on CBS.

Bellator event headlined by Fedor Emelianenko x Ryan Bader 2 for the heavyweight title will air live on CBS on Feb. 4. Yoel Romero vs. the winner of Anderson/Nemkov for the 205 belt, too.

First time MMA is on CBS since 2013.

First reported by @Shak_Fu.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) November 18, 2022

Scott Coker Comments on Fedor Emelianenko Retirement Fight Airing on CBS

Bellator MMA president Scott Coker issued a statement following the announcement, explicitly discussing the promotion’s debut on network television.

“We have been working tirelessly on growing this brand into the global powerhouse it is today and a primetime slot on CBS has always been one of our key objectives,” Coker said. “With a healthy roster full of many of the world’s very best fighters, along with elite up-and-coming prospects and legends of the game, I’m very excited to showcase this event on the most-watched network in America.”

In his prime, Fedor Emelianenko went on a 27-fight win streak across multiple promotions including Rings, PRIDE, Affliction, and Strikeforce. Time eventually caught up with ‘The Last Emperor’ and he found himself dropping three straight under the Strikeforce banner. Emelianenko recovered winning five in a row before signing with Bellator in 2017. In the last five years, ‘The Last Emperor’ has gone 4-2 with wins over Frank Mir, Chael Sonnen, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, and Tim Johnson.

His last loss inside the cage was the 2019 meeting with Ryan Bader. If Fedor Emelianenko gets the victory in his final MMA appearance this February, he will not only avenge the last loss of his career, he will walk away as a world champion.