Ryan Bader doesn’t mind being “the bad guy” to ruin Fedor Emelianenko’s retirement fight

Ryan Bader will do his best to ruin Fedor Emelianenko's last ever professional MMA bout.

Fedor Emelianenko vs Ryan Bader (Image Courtesy: CBS Sports)

Ryan Bader is all set to defend his Bellator Heavyweight World Championship against a legend, Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290. Going into the fight, Emelianenko will have the idea that it is going to be the last fight of his glorious MMA career. As a legend of the sport, he would definitely want to end his career as a heavyweight champion.

However, the current champion, Ryan Bader has some other plans for that night as he has no problem being the villain of Emelianenko’s perfect story. During the pre-fight press conference for the event, Bader mentioned that he’s going into the fight to do his job and win the bout despite his personal opinions about Emelianenko.

He said: “I’m the bad guy taking that away from him. But I’m in that position…. I’ve got to do my job. I respect that guy a lot, what he’s done in this sport, also as a person. But I’ve got a job to do at the end of the day.”

The American is well aware of the fact that the fans on that night will be on Emelianenko’s side and will be cheering for the legend. However, he will do his best to retain his position as the reigning champion.

Fedor Emelianenko’s last chance to get his vengeance against Ryan Bader

Fedor Emelianenko vs Ryan Bader (Image Courtesy: BJPenn)

Emelianenko and Ryan Bader are not unknown to each other inside the cage as both fighters have already fought back in 2019. Back then Bader had participated in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and made it to the finals against the reigning champion, Emelianenko.

In that fight, Bader absolutely obliterated Emelianenko by defeating him in just 35 seconds with a nasty strike. The win made Bador the first-ever Bellator simultaneous two-weight champion.

After that fight, Emelianenko bounced back and fought two fights and won both of them via KO. The Russian would like to have a different result this time against Bader.

Bader on the other hand is in tremendous form and has defended his heavyweight title twice in his last two fights. It’s going to be an amazing bout and means a lot for Bellator’s Heavyweight division legacy.

Continue Reading:

“Hello sweet potato…I was distracted” – WATCH: Spanish reporter gets Chael Sonnen and Fedor Emelianenko “excited” during a press conference

WATCH! Fedor Emelianenko channels his inner Steph Curry at the Footprint Center in Pheonix ahead of Bellator 273

#About the Author

Soumya Ranjan

(2167 Articles Published)

Soumya Ranjan Rout embarked on his sports writing journey in 2020, and since then, he has penned over 2100 articles. With a keen focus on boxing, UFC, One Championship, Bellator, and various other MMA promotions, Soumya brings a pragmatic approach to his coverage. His introduction to the world of MMA and boxing was sparked by the compelling rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, serving as the catalyst for his deep dive into combat sports. Currently holding the position of writer and subgroup head in the MMA and boxing section, Soumya Ranjan Rout's dedication lies in delivering straightforward and insightful coverage. His commitment to providing a unique perspective is fueled by both his love for the sport and the desire to keep fans well-informed about the happenings in the world of boxing and MMA.

Comments

Please login to join the discussion.

Be the first to comment!

Ryan Bader doesn’t mind being “the bad guy” to ruin Fedor Emelianenko’s retirement fight

Fedor Emelianenko’s last chance to get his vengeance against Ryan Bader

Stay Updated!