Bellator 290 Betting Odds Preview: The Last Emperor’s Last Stand
The Great Fedor Emelianenko Gets Last Crack at Bellator Gold
Bellator Odds Against Emelianenko in this Rematch
Fedor Emelianenko rematches Ryan Bader for the Bellator Heavyweight Championship in what would be his final fight. “The Last Emperor” lost to Bader in 2019 but has rattled off two straight knockout victories to get another crack at the champ.
While the Bellator 290 betting odds favor Bader again, the Russian MMA legend has shown he can still hit hard. They headline a stacked card for Bellator this Saturday evening.
Bellator 290: Event Information
Bader vs Fedor
Date & Time:
Location: Kia Forum, Inglewood, California, Los Angeles
Broadcast: CBS, YouTube (Prelims)
Can Emelianenko Finish on High Note?
Many fans still believe it today: Emelianenko or simply “Fedor” is the greatest MMA fighter to ever live. Sized as a middleweight at six-feet flat and just over 230 pounds, Emelianenko owns 31 finishes in 40 career victories. He’s starched former UFC champions from Andrei Arlovski to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
But going against Bader, Emelianenko faces a fighter that is undefeated at 265 pounds: 5-0. Bader puts his NCAA Division I wrestling to good use by dominating his opponents on the ground.
And even if he can’t, he puts on the pressure that makes his challengers wilt. In terms of his striking, Bader hits like a truck. That’s how he beat Emelianenko.
It’s not surprising to see the Bader vs Fedor 2 odds at this wide of a margin at -350 for the champion.
The total at 1.5 rounds is also juiced to finish under that (-210). Thus, the oddsmakers expect this rematch to go as the first fight did; an early finish for Bader. But don’t count Emelianenko out as all of his wins in Bellator have come via first-round knockout.
Eblen Defends Belt in Co-Main Event
Warming up the main event is the new Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen. The unbeaten wrestler gets a stiff test against Emelianenko’s compatriot, Anatoly Tokov.
The Bellator 290 betting odds favor Eblen at -240, which has shot up from his opening line of -165. The comeback on Tokov is now at +190.
Eblen broke through six months ago when he upset Gegard Mousasi to win the belt as a moderate underdog. Now, he’ll be on the other end as he looks to defend his title as the favorite.
Tokov has gone 7-0 in Bellator and has all but owned his competition. He has five finishes typically via his grappling.
But if the Bellator 290 betting odds are any indication, he’s outmatched by Eblen here.
Maybe the public is overestimating Eblen thanks to his performance against Mousasi. But as an undefeated fighter, there has been little evidence to doubt the champion.
Action Fights Litter Remainder of Card
The rest of this Bellator schedule offers plenty for every type of fan or bettor. Sabah Homasi and Brennan Ward will throw down in the featured bout of the main card. These welterweights will do their best impression of “rock ’em-sock’ em robots” hence why the total is set to go under 1.5 rounds (-190).
The odds favor Homasi at -200 who has won two straight fights and is 6-4 in Bellator. Ward has also won two straight but has not been as active as Homasi.
Lorenz Larkin and Mukhamed Berkhamov also conclude unfinished business in a welterweight bout on the prelims. Their first bout in July last year ended in a no-contest when Larkin inadvertently hit Berkhamov to the back of the head. Larkin was upset and there is added bad blood to this rematch, in which the odds favor Berkhamov at -245.
Also, Henry Corrales will test unbeaten prospect Akhmed Magomedov. Corrales has shared the cage with the who’s who of 145 pounds like Aaron Pico and Juan Archuleta. He upset Pico as a 4-1 underdog back in 2019. Now, he faces similar odds at +335. Magomedov is 10-0 and won his Bellator debut easily last July.
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