Bellator could steal the show Saturday as Ryan Bader rematches Fedor Emelianenko. This will be “The Last Emperor’s” last fight and the Bellator MMA odds think it’s ending with a loss. Bader knocked out Emelianenko in their last bout, which is also the last time Emelianenko lost. Since then, Emelianenko has won two straight. But if there is a bet to make here, it could be in the total.
Let’s check the latest UFC picks, stats, and UFC lines for Bader vs Emelianenko. We’ve plenty of Bellator 290 odds for you to consider.
First Round Fedor
If there has been one thing consistent with Emelianenko in his career, it’s that his fights almost always end within the first two rounds. In fact, you’d have to go back to 2016 to find a fight that didn’t, a decision “win” over Fabio Maldonado. That’s one of his only two fights to go to a decision in 18 years.
Emelianenko will either starch his opponent or go down trying. In Bellator, Emelianenko owns four victories to two defeats – all by first-round T/KO. In fact, four ended within two minutes including his two losses.
“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫’𝐬” 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 👑
Fedor Emelianenko looks to cap off his legacy when he takes on @RyanBader for the World Heavyweight Championship on February 4th 🔥#Bellator290 | Bader 🆚 Fedor II | @bbciplayer pic.twitter.com/dJEufZ59Lq
— Bellator Europe (@Bellator_Europe) January 28, 2023
At 46 years old with plenty of wear and tear, Emelianenko can’t take damage. He may go down with the first shot he eats. However, he can still dish it thus underdog bettors can bet online given his current price tag.
Bader Is Not Just a Wrestler
Bader made his career thanks to his prolific wrestling background. He is a former NCAA Division I All-American and has mauled most of his opponents. However, he also has heavy hands as Emelianenko quickly found out.
The 39-year-old owns eight knockout victories over his UFC and Bellator tenures. While he has just one KO win at heavyweight, it came against the man he’s fighting. And unlike Emelianenko that is ready to move on from MMA, Bader is still going strong.
But Bader can’t get too careless here. His two losses in Bellator came via knockout. He is not the most durable fighter and a well-placed punch can hurt him. But as long as he has his wrestling to fall back on, Bader can avoid most of what Emelianenko offers to defend his belt.
Bader vs Fedor 2 Head-to-Head
While Bader is the bigger and younger fighter, Emelianenko sports a two-inch reach advantage. They also weigh around the same at 232 pounds or so. They both strike in the orthodox stance.
Bader vs Fedor 2 Fight Information
- Fighters: Bader (30-7-0) vs Fedor 2 (40-6-0, 1 NC)
- Location: Kia Forum, Inglewood, CA
- Day/Time: Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:15 p.m. ET
- Bader vs FedorLive stream: UFC Fight Pass
Bader vs Fedor 2 Betting Lines
Bader vs Fedor 2 Picks and Prediction
As we’ve covered, this one will end quickly. The sportsbook has the under 1½ rounds set at -210 and that is a decent price for something that will almost surely happen. Emelianenko is made of glass at this point so any punch Bader hits him with could finish him. And if Emelianenko is pulling off the upset, he’ll catch Bader within the first round.
Bader is listed at -350 in our Vegas Bellator lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Bader, you have a chance to win $29. Emelianenko is +250, offering a chance to win $250 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Bader a 77.78% chance to win, with Emelianenko at 28.57%.
