Ryan Bader-Fedor Emelianenko Square Off Saturday On CBS

Bellator has put together one of its best fight cards of the year, and it is only three bouts.

The promotion debuts on CBS this Saturday night with Ryan Bader defending his heavyweight title against Fedor Emelianenko.

The main card also features Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight crown vs. Anatoly Tokov and Sabah Homasi meeting Brennan Ward.

A complete prelim lineup will air on YouTube and Pluto TV, with the main card also streaming on Paramount+.

Neiman Gracie vs. Dante Schiro is the headliner there, as Lorenz Larkin, Henry Corrales, Alejandra Lara, Darrion Caldwell and others fight in bouts.

But all eyes will be on the heavyweight main event – as it is possible that we see Fedor fight for a final time.

The former champion has indicated this is it, but in mixed martial arts, you never truly know. If it is, what better way to promote the bout than on CBS.

Emelianenko, who will turn 47 years old later this year, has won back-to-back bouts. Of course, the first came in 2019 and the later in 2021.

He finished Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 237 and did the same to Timothy Johnson. Both of those fights ended in the first round, and to get by Bader, he’ll likely have to do the same.

Four years ago, “Darth” earned a 35-second finish of Fedor in the finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix. That win earned him the belt, as well.

Bader hasn’t lost at heavyweight since, dropping the light heavyweight title in 2020. He is coming off back-to-back decision wins over Cheick Kongo and Valentin Moldavsky.