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Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader is all in favor of a potential showdown against former UFC heavyweight champion and current free agent Francis Ngannou.
However, the 39-year-old, who recently picked up his second win over MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, feels that 'The Predator' will most likely try to bag a boxing superfight against Tyson Fury rather than make an MMA return.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Bader stated that he would be the most logical opponent for Ngannou if the Cameroonian decides to sign with Bellator:
"If he turned that down with the UFC and all that, you know, I think he's going to box. You know, a lot of these guys... get away from MMA... but they don't have Tyson Fury calling them out, and he [Ngannou] does. Yeah, I mean Bellator, we'd love to have him, [I] would love to fight him. So, it's one of those things, we'll see where he goes, do I think he goes back into MMA, I don't know... but if he does come to MMA, I'm the guy with the belt. We'll be fighting."
Catch Ryan Bader's comments below:
In his most recent fight at Bellator 290, 'Darth' secured a first-round TKO win over Pride legend Fedor Emelianenko in the latter's retirement fight. Bader is a former UFC fighter and holds a pro-MMA record of 31-7-0 (1 no-contest).
Francis Ngannou was last seen winning a unanimous decision victory against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. 'The Predator' has since left the promotion after failed contract renegotiations.
When Tyson Fury reignited his callout against Francis Ngannou
Rumors of a potential superfight between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight kingpin Francis Ngannou first erupted when 'The Gypsy King' called out Ngannou after his TKO win over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium.
Interestingly, the WBC champ recently renewed the offer with a fresh callout. In an interview with SecondsOut, the Brit had a rather unique proposition for 'The Predator', a boxing match in the MMA cage with four-ounce gloves and Mike Tyson as a referee:
"Francis Ngannou, I know you're out of contract with the UFC. You want to run some big boy money? Come see 'Gypsy King'. And let's do a big, big fight for the baddest MF on the planet. And let's kick it up spicy, in a cage, four-ounce gloves, under the Queensberry rules, and let's have a bada** referee like 'Iron Mike' Tyson."
Catch Tyson Fury's callout to Francis Ngannou below:
