A critical light heavyweight fight between Daniel Cormier and Ryan Bader has been announced, and it will likely serve as the headline for UFC Fight Night on June 6.
The announcement was made on Twitter:
It’s official! Daniel Cormier vs Ryan Bader on June 6th on FOX Sports 1.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) February 12, 2015
Cormier is fresh off a lopsided loss to Jon Jones at UFC 182. While the bout was a blockbuster success, it is likely an affair Cormier would prefer to forget, as he was outclassed in the cage by the longtime light heavyweight champion. That said, his Olympic wrestling credentials and formidable kickboxing keep him ranked among the 205-pound division’s elite.
Bader, on the other hand, is a fighter that has long stood just outside of title contention. With strong wrestling chops of his own and a potent ground-and-pound style, Bader has long been a tough out for his light heavyweight peers.
However, contenders like Jones, Lyoto Machida and Glover Teixeira have consistently found ways to put Bader away before the final buzzer. Recently, however, he has become something of a contender due to his four-fight winning streak, which ranks among the best in the division. If he can manage to defeat Cormier, it will be hard to argue against a title shot for the 16-fight UFC veteran.
Cormier is likely to open the bout as a huge favorite, given his elite status and Bader‘s well-documented struggles with top-level competition. While Bader‘s fairly dominant wins over Strikeforce veterans Ovince Saint Preux and Rafael Cavalcante, as well as his most recent victory over Phil Davis, give him a strong resume on paper, Cormier likely owns the edge in both pure wrestling and striking.
Beyond the date, network and the Cormier vs. Bader bout, there are currently no details regarding the UFC’s June 6 event. Stick with Bleacher Report for more announcements on the card as they become available.
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