Tag: Ryan Bader

Bellator 256: Bader vs. Machida 2 Full Card & Weigh-In Results

The Bellator 256 weigh-ins are complete, and all but one fighter successfully made weight. Tomorrow night at Bellator 256, the light heavyweight grand prix will kick off with former division champion and current heavyweight champ Ryan Bader facing Lyot…

The Bellator 256 weigh-ins are complete, and all but one fighter successfully made weight. Tomorrow night at Bellator 256, the light heavyweight grand prix will kick off with former division champion and current heavyweight champ Ryan Bader facing Lyoto Machida in the main event. The co-main event will feature former UFC vet Liz Carmouche facing […]

Ryan Bader Would Like To See Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos Join Bellator

Overeem Dos SantosRyan Bader is hoping the Bellator heavyweight division is injected with the arrivals of Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos. Both Overeem and Dos Santos were released from the UFC earlier this month after recent setbacks. Dos Santos was not as surprising given that he was on a four-fight losing streak after his TKO defeat […]

Overeem Dos Santos

Ryan Bader is hoping the Bellator heavyweight division is injected with the arrivals of Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos.

Both Overeem and Dos Santos were released from the UFC earlier this month after recent setbacks. Dos Santos was not as surprising given that he was on a four-fight losing streak after his TKO defeat to Ciryl Gane in December.

Overeem, however, was more surprising as he had won four of his last five prior to his TKO defeat to Alexander Volkov last month.

Regardless, both legends are no longer with the UFC and have made no mention of potentially retiring from the sport either. Bare Knuckle FC are already in talks with the pair but Bellator heavyweight champion Bader would like to see them join the Santa Monica-based promotion instead.

Whether they will sign them remains to be seen, however.

“Look at what Bellator has done with (building) light heavyweight,” Bader told MMA Junkie. “It all depends, because Bellator’s model, they’re kind of changing a little bit. They’re bringing up their own guys, younger guys and all that.

“Yeah, I would like those guys to come over. I don’t know if they’re going to get those older guys now. We’ll see.”

While the light heavyweight division is thriving at Bellator, the heavyweight division could certainly use some new blood. Bader still reigns as the champion there, but for now, is focused on regaining his light heavyweight title in the promotion’s current grand prix.

However, he does expect to defend his heavyweight title in the future and is hoping he does it against some new names.

“I don’t know if Overeem is retired now,” Bader added. “But Dos Santos definitely seems like he wants to keep fighting and all that, so he’d be a good addition.”

Where do you think they should go?

Bellator Announce Eight-Man Light Heavyweight Tournament

BellatorBellator has announced a light-heavyweight Gran-Prix is set to take place. An anonymous source with knowledge of the announcement reported the news to MMA DNA earlier today. Bellator have since confirmed the story during a press conference. To no one’s surprise, newly signed knockout artists and former UFC title challengers Yoel Romero and Anthony ‘Rumble’ […]

Bellator

Bellator has announced a light-heavyweight Gran-Prix is set to take place.

An anonymous source with knowledge of the announcement reported the news to MMA DNA earlier today.

Bellator have since confirmed the story during a press conference.

To no one’s surprise, newly signed knockout artists and former UFC title challengers Yoel Romero and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson will be joining the action at 205 in their Bellator debuts. Although to a certain shock, Scott Coker has matched up these powerhouses to fight each other on April 16th!

Ryan Bader, the former kingpin of the division will also look to stake his claim back on the title. Bader was defeated by Fedor Emeilianko’s protege, Vadim Nemkov in a series of attacks in round two. While Bader may not get his revenge on Nemkov immediately, he will have a chance to redeem himself against another familiar opponent in Lyoto Machida. “The Dragon” knocked out Bader in their first outing in 2012. The two will meet once again on April 9th.

Nemkov now wears the crown at 205. He will take on former foe Phil Davis in a rematch. The two fought to a split decision back in 2018 with Nemkov getting the nod from the judges. This time the title will be on the line, come April 16th.

Another name that will be thrown into the mix is Corey Anderson. “Overtime” made quick work of Melvin Manhoef in his debut under the Bellator banner last November. He has since called out for a title shot against Nemkov. However, the new signings of “Rumble” and Romero have left the title picture complicated. Anderson will fight highly-touted debutant Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov.

Scott Coker: Ryan Bader Wants Vadim Nemkov Rematch, Might Vacate Heavyweight Title

BaderRyan Bader may have to vacate his Bellator heavyweight crown. Bader was previously a simultaneous two-weight champion for the promotion having also held at the light heavyweight strap. That was until he was brutally finished by Vadim Nemkov in August in a second-round TKO finish. Bader was initially planning on bouncing back with a defense […]

Bader

Ryan Bader may have to vacate his Bellator heavyweight crown.

Bader was previously a simultaneous two-weight champion for the promotion having also held at the light heavyweight strap.

That was until he was brutally finished by Vadim Nemkov in August in a second-round TKO finish. Bader was initially planning on bouncing back with a defense of his heavyweight title.

However, it now appears he is eager to run things back with Nemkov.

“We were definitely heading in that direction, then I got a call recently from his management saying that he would like to consider fighting Nemkov again,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “So to me, we haven’t flushed it out, but I think there is a desire for a rematch for that fight.

“If it happens, I’m not sure, but we’re definitely going to have a conversation with him about it because we were all about him getting into the heavyweight division and defending his belt, but that could change in the next couple of weeks.”

If Bader were to fight Nemkov again, that would further hold up the heavyweight division which has not seen a title fight since Bader’s no contest with Cheick Kongo back in September 2019.

That means it’s very likely he would have to vacate the heavyweight title in such a scenario.

“I think he might have to make a decision at that point, but we’ll talk it through because he’s our champ, but we also want to let the belt continue on,” Coker said. “If you really want to fight Nemkov, we have to have a conversation at some point.

“I think his management told us he’s basically very excited about these new signings and he’d love to fight these guys. Fight Nemkov, get his belt back. He’d also like to fight the other guys we just signed, whether it’s Yoel (Romero) or ‘Rumble’ (Johnson), but he’s ready to go. Ryan Bader’s afraid of nobody, believe me. This guy is a killer, too.”

Given how exciting things are in Bellator’s light heavyweight division as of now, one can’t blame Bader either.

Do you think Bader should vacate his heavyweight crown?

Ryan Bader May Have To Vacate Bellator HW Championship

If Ryan Bader has his way, his next bout will be a light heavyweight championship rematch against Vadim Nemkov instead of defending his heavyweight title. Reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader suffered his first loss in four years and since…

If Ryan Bader has his way, his next bout will be a light heavyweight championship rematch against Vadim Nemkov instead of defending his heavyweight title. Reigning Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader suffered his first loss in four years and since entering Bellator MMA when he dropped the light heavyweight title to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator […]

Ryan Bader Gets Revenge, Beats Anthony Johnson At SUG 19

Ryan BaderIt may not have been in an MMA fight, but Ryan Bader was able to extract a small bit of revenge against his former foe. Anthony Johnson was originally scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes, then Fabricio Werdum, at Submission Underground 19. When Werdum had to drop out late, Bader stepped up on 72 hours notice […]

Ryan Bader

It may not have been in an MMA fight, but Ryan Bader was able to extract a small bit of revenge against his former foe.

Anthony Johnson was originally scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes, then Fabricio Werdum, at Submission Underground 19. When Werdum had to drop out late, Bader stepped up on 72 hours notice to set up a quasi-rematch between the two. The pair originally squared off almost 5 years ago at UFC on Fox 18 in January 2016. Bader looked noticeably gun-shy in that fight, and was subsequently stopped in 86 seconds. The grappling match on Sunday had a much different outcome.

Bader, a former collegiate All-American, dominated the contest in it’s entirety, all the way to the third overtime round. He would then post a faster escape time, handing him the win. The victory sets up a potential rubber match between the two now that they are once again in the same promotion.

Johnson made headlines recently when he announced he would be joining the Bellator ranks. “Rumble” retired from the sport in 2017, and all the rumours about a return had him rejoining the UFC. He joins Yoel Romero as a big get for the promotion’s light heavyweight division.

Bader joined Bellator in 2017, after rebounding from the Johnson loss with stoppage victories of Ilir Latifi and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. He won the light heavyweight title in his promotional debut, then went on to dominate the Heavyweight Grand Prix en route to winning that division’s title as well. His lastest fight saw him drop the 205 pound championship to Vadim Nemkov.

The thought of a trilogy bout of sorts between the two only adds further intrigue to a light heavyweight division that is quickly becoming one of the more interesting in the sport. Bellator’s latest additions add to an already impressive list that includes Bader, Phil Davis, Corey Anderson and Melvin Manhoef, among others, make it one to watch. Johnson’s opponent for his debut has yet to be named, but whoever it is, you can be sure it will be must-see TV.

Do you want to see Ryan Bader and Anthony Johonson rematch in MMA?