PHOENIX – Many thought Fedor Emelianenko was next to challenge for the Bellator heavyweight title, but that won’t be the case – at least for now. The heavyweight belt was up for grabs Saturday when champion Ryan Bader stepped in to defend it against Emelianenko protege Valentin Moldavsky in the Bellator 273 main event. If Bader successfully defended the Bellator title, many thought it could potentially set up a rematch with Emelianenko later this summer. But as soon as Bader was announced the unanimous decision winner, the promotion revealed a different rematch. Bader and Cheick Kongo will run it back May 6 in Paris . Their first fight, in 2019, ended in a no contest when Kongo was accidentally poked in the eye and couldn’t continue.
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With Bader vs. Kongo 2 booked, Scott Coker weighs in on Fedor Emelianenko’s future – MMA Junkie