Bellator 2022 begins with a world heavyweight unification bout between defending champion Ryan Bader and interim titlist Valentin Moldavsky. Bader returns to the division following his impressive run in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix and meets Russian Moldavsky in a hotly-anticipated unification bout. Bader’s last title defence came against veteran Cheick Kongo in 2019, a bout the American was controlling until an accidental eye poke prematurely ended the contest. Meanwhile in Bader’s absence Moldavsky became the winner of the promotion’s first ever interim title following a dominant win over Tim Johnson at Bellator 261. Training under the tutelage of heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, Moldavsky has begun carving out his own legacy, and boasts a perfect 6-0 record in the Bellator cage. Show less