Ryan Bader finds himself in a unique position Saturday night in Las Vegas.
He’s fighting Tito Ortiz, one of only a few active UFC fighters with a link to the promotion’s early days. Over time, Ortiz’s image has made him one of the most loved and reviled competitors to ever step inside the octagon. But as that image outstripped his abilities, it’s been more of the latter.
So Bader could be the hero of the Western world – or the jerk who ended a future Hall of Famer’s career – with a win over Ortiz.