Tag: Bellator 290

Video: Did Fedor Emelianenko ‘for sure’ retire as the MMA heavyweight GOAT?

Fedor Emelianenko certainly has a strong case that he’s the greatest heavyweight of all time.

The remarkable career of [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] came to an end this past Saturday at Bellator 290, where the former Pride legend was TKO’d in Round 1 by heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in his retirement fight.

At 46, Emelianenko may have hung up his gloves later than he should’ve, but there’s no denying his significance to MMA. And Emelianenko certainly has a strong case to be the greatest heavyweight of all time.

An entire generation may not be aware, but Emelianenko was the pound-for-pound king for a lengthy period of time in the 2000s. While never competed in the UFC, he started his career 31-1-1 with wins over former and eventual UFC heavyweight champions in Andrei Arlovski, Mark Coleman, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, and Tim Sylvia. It’s why Bellator president Scott Coker heaped so much praise on Emelianenko during Bellator 290 fight week.

UFC president Dana White, on the other hand, held it against Emelianenko that he never “tested himself” officially in the UFC – even though he owns wins over a bunch of UFC fighters.

The question is: Is he the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time? This week’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Nolan King, Danny Segura, Brian “Goze” Garcia, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia are split, with former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic also getting some love.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.

Daniel Cormier: Stipe Miocic, not Fedor Emelianenko, greatest MMA heavyweight of all time

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier hails Fedor Emelianenko as a heavyweight great, but he’s not No. 1 on his list.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] hails [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] as a heavyweight great, but he’s not No. 1.

Emelianenko (40-6 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) retired this past Saturday after a first-round knockout loss to heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in the Bellator 290 headliner, marking the end of a legendary 23-year professional career that included stints in Pride, Strikeforce and Bellator.

“The Last Emperor” is considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight of all time, although UFC president Dana White thinks said that can’t be since he never competed in the UFC. Emelianenko started his career 31-1-1, a run until 2009 that included wins over former and eventual UFC heavyweight champions Andrei Arlovski, Mark Coleman, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, and Tim Sylvia.

Still, Cormier believes that former foe [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) had a better resume. Miocic holds the UFC heavyweight record for consecutive title defenses at three, which consisted of wins over Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos and Francis Ngannou after claiming the belt from Fabricio Werdum in May 2016.

“I don’t believe (Fedor’s) the greatest heavyweight of all time,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “I think that belongs to Stipe Miocic, but only because Cain Velasquez was injured so much. I think in terms of skill, there’s no one that ever matched Cain Velasquez at heavyweight.

“But I believe that Stipe Miocic’s title defenses and the long reign that he had at the top of the division puts him atop. But Fedor is in the top five, and I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of.”

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In a video he posted on his YouTube channel in October 2021, Cormier previously said he considered Emelianenko the greatest heavyweight of all time.

Cormier himself is on many people’s heavyweight GOAT list. The former UFC dual champion was involved in a historic trilogy with Miocic, where Cormier dethroned him to capture the heavyweight title. But Miocic exacted his revenge in the rematch and closed off the trilogy with a second consecutive victory, which marked Cormier’s final fight in 2020.

Miocic hasn’t competed in almost two years, when he lost the title to Ngannou in a rematch at UFC 260.

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Diana Avsaragova apologizes for Bellator 290 weight miss: ‘It’s totally my fault’

Unbeaten prospect Diana Avsaragova apologizes for missing weight for Bellator 290.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – [autotag]Diana Avsaragova[/autotag] is not 100 percent satisfied with her return this past Saturday.

The unbeaten Russian prospect is glad she beat former title challenger Alejandra Lara at Bellator 290, but not happy with the conditions under which she came into the fight. Avsaragova (6-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) missed the women’s flyweight by nearly three pounds (128.8) Friday at the official weigh-ins.

“I want to apologize to (Lara) for missing weight, and I also want to apologize to Bellator and the fans,” Avsaragova said at the Bellator 290 post-fight news conference. “It was a great fight for me. It was a tough fight, and I’m happy – super happy that I won.”

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The weight miss at Bellator 290 was the first time Avsaragova has missed weight under the Bellator banner. Avsaragova said she was not entirely sure what went wrong with her cut.

“I had a tough weight cut – I don’t know why,” Avsaragova said. “I always cut the same amount of weight, but this is what happened. It’s a lack of experience from my side. It’s totally my fault. But I’ll keep fighting at this weight class because obviously the next weight class in Bellator is 145 pounds, and I’m not that big.”

Bellator currently has women’s divisions for strawweight, flyweight and featherweight, but not bantamweight.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.

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Chris Gonzalez wants lightweight grand prix alternate spot after TKO of Max Rohskopf at Bellator 290

Chris Gonzalez was “a little pissed” that he wasn’t included in the Bellator lightweight grand prix in the first place.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – [autotag]Chris Gonzalez[/autotag] hopes he’s considered for an alternate spot in the lightweight grand prix after Bellator 290.

Gonzalez (8-2 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) rallied to take out Max Rohskopf in Round 2 on Saturday inside Kia Forum. The 31-year-old, who rebounded from a submission loss to current lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, is ready to jump into the lightweight tournament if anyone pulls out.

“Obviously Nurmagomedov is the champ right now, so we know where he stands. I think I’m right there at the top of the pecking order,” Gonzalez said at the Bellator 290 post-fight news conference. “So, one more fight, and I plan on being right there. I’m gonna stay ready, wait for that phone call. I never wish injuries on anybody, but if anybody gets hurt during this tournament, I want to make sure that I’m available to slide right in.”

He continued, “Usman’s a hell of a fighter. He caught me early in that fight. Not to take anything away from him, he’s a dog like I said. I’m sure I’ll be seeing him down the road.”

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Gonzalez admits he felt slightly snubbed out of the grand prix but understands why he wasn’t included.

“As soon as they came out with that tournament, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little pissed that I wasn’t in it,” Gonzalez said. “But at the same time, I couldn’t really be mad that they chose the guys that they did because all of those guys were deserving in their own right.

“So I think had there been a couple more athletes in the tournament, I definitely would have been chosen, but that wasn’t the case. So now I can just do what I can do, just take care of the people they do put in front of me like I did tonight and stay ready for when that phone call comes.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3333: Guest Jimmy Crute, Fedor Emelianenko’s final fight, more

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.


Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,333, the lads welcome in UFC light heavyweight [autotag]Jimmy Crute[/autotag] for a chat. In addition, they take a look back at Bellator 290 which featured two title fights and the final bout of Fedor Emelianenko’s career, and UFC Fight Night 218 at the UFC Apex. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Bellator 290: Best photos from Inglewood

Check out these photos from Bellator 290, which took place at Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

Check out these photos from Bellator 290, which took place at Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan, Bellator MMA)

Scott Coker on Bellator’s CBS debut, Fedor’s retirement, Eblen’s first title defense, more

Scott Coker on Bellator’s debut on CBS, MMA legends’ tribute to Fedor Emelianenko, Johnny Eblen and much more.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – There’s a lot going on with Bellator these days.

The promotion is coming off one of the biggest events in its history, Bellator 290, which hosted two title fights and several other important matchups for the company. On top of that, Bellator 290 marked the company’s television debut on CBS.

With everything going on, Bellator president [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] spoke to media members following the event to reflect on Saturday’s card, as well as other things going on in the promotion.

See what Coker had to say about MMA legends’ tribute to [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag]’s first title defense, the Bellator-Globo partnership in Brazil, and more.

Spinning Back Clique: Conor McGregor returns as ‘TUF’ coach, Dana White downplays Fedor, more

This week’s live stream of “Spinning Back Clique” reacts to Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler as “TUF 31” coaches, Fedor Emelianenko’s legacy and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Nolan King, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] retired from MMA competition with his loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 290. Afterward, Bellator president hailed him as the greatest heavyweight in the sport’s history, while UFC president Dana White offered a less complimentary view on where “The Last Emperor” fits in history.
  • [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] are confirmed as coaches on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and are expected to fight later this year. Did the UFC make the right call on the matchup for McGregor’s return? Can his unmatched star power revive the reality series?
  • Undefeated champ [autotag]Johnny Eblen[/autotag] claimed he’s the No. 1 middleweight in the world after a dominant title defense over Anatoly Tokov in the Bellator 290 co-headliner. Is Eblen’s statement fact or fiction?
  • Bantamweight star [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] revealed he’s signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC and is more than pleased with the pay he negotiated with the promotion. Did O’Malley make a mistake for his future by signing such a long-term deal?
  • UFC 284 on Saturday marks the seventh champion-vs-champion fight in company history, with featherweight king [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] set to move up a division to challenge lightweight champ [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]. What would a win do for each man’s legacy going forward?

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.

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Brennan Ward wants welterweight title shot or unbeaten Dalton Rosta at middleweight after Bellator 290

Brennan Ward is looking to get a title shot following his TKO win over Sabah Homasi at Bellator 290 on Saturday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – [autotag]Brennan Ward[/autotag] thinks it’s time he fights for gold.

The Bellator welterweight contender wants to challenge for the title following his most recent win. Ward (17-6 MMA, 12-6 BMMA) defeated Sabah Homasi (17-11 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) by second-round TKO to open up the Bellator 290 main card on CBS on Saturday.

Now on a three-fight winning streak, Ward thinks it’s time he got a title shot.

“I want to fight for the belt,” Ward said at his Bellator 290 post-fight news conference. “I want to fight for the title. I want to fight for the title, man. Nobody brings it like I do. No one in the promotion brings it like I do.

“What? Maybe the ‘Pitbull’ Brothers? Who else? Who else brings it like I do? I’ve got a 100 percent finishing rate – 100 percent … 100 percent, dude – against some dudes that can crack, too, you know what I mean?”

The Bellator welterweight title currently is held by Yaroslav Amosov. The Ukranian is set to fight interim champion Logan Storley in a title unification bout Feb. 25 at Bellator 291 in Dublin.

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But if the next title shot doesn’t come his way, Ward has other interests, as well – just not at 170 pounds. Ward would like to face rising middleweight contender Dalton Rosta (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) a weight class above.

“Would it be a fun super fight? I think it would be fun,” Ward said. “Dude, come on. You know that would be a fun-ass fight. I was bullsh*tting with his manager when I came back, and I was like, ‘That dude is a younger version of me.’ He’s a little more cut up and diesel than when I was at 185, but he reminded me just of me. And I’m like, ‘Yo, that would be such a fun fight.

“I don’t f*cking hate the guy. He doesn’t hate me. He’s better than me at the memes. He makes good f*cking memes and gets under my skin. … If they want to make that fight, I’m obviously down for that fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.

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Scott Coker has no regrets about Fedor’s legendary career – almost

When it comes to his association with Fedor Emelianenko, Scott Coker has very few regrets. But allow him a couple wishful indulgences.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – When it comes to his association with [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag], Scott Coker has very few regrets.

But he does have some, and chances are good they’re shared by the bulk of longtime MMA fans.

If Bellator president Coker had his druthers, he’d have been able to witness, as we all would have, a fight between Emelianenko and former two-division UFC champion Randy Couture. And while we’re at it, Coker would take a Fedor vs. Josh Barnett heavyweight matchup, too.

Emelianenko (40-7 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) set down his gloves inside the cage at Bellator 290 following a first-round TKO loss to heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (31-7 MMA, 9-2 BMMA) in their main event rematch.

Bader took out Emelianenko halfway through the first round. The first time the two fought in 2019, Bader knocked out “The Last Emeperor” in just 35 seconds to win the then-vacant title.

Emelianenko knew in advance that his one last shot at a Bellator title would be his last fight. So Bellator packed cagegside at Kia Forum near Los Angeles with all kinds of former Emelianenko opponents and is contemporaries from the early era of MMA. And with Couture and Barnett among those former fighters on hand for Emelianenko’s swan song, Coker couldn’t help but wonder.

“Would I have liked to see him and Randy fight? Sure. Him and Josh? Of course,” Coker said after Bellator 290. “But if you look at the string of fights he had in PRIDE during his hey-day run, it was just incredible.”

Emelianenko went unbeaten from late 2000 until mid-2010, almost all for PRIDE in Japan against some of the best heavyweights in the sport’s history, the majority of whom fought for PRIDE at the time and not in the UFC, which was still under its first ownership group when Emelianenko was getting started on a run that eventually hit 27 straight victories.

Although Emelianenko was sent into retirement with a loss, at 46, he seemed content with his decision. And Coker would co-sign on it.

“Fedor has already done it all,” he said. “He didn’t need to do anything. So any time he fights another fight, I think for the last three or four years, it’s a special occasion – it’s an event. You can feel it. When he fights, it’s an event. He doesn’t need to prove himself. To me, he’s the greatest heavyweight of all time.

“… I was telling him when he left, ‘It’s an honor for me to promote you,’ … He’s a real true champion, and to me he’s the GOAT.”

Check out Coker’s full post-fight interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 290.

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