Ryan Bader

Ranked as the number three light heavyweight fighter in the world, Ryan Bader is one of the few

fighters who cannot really be quantified in any way. A legend on the mat, any opponent needs to

know that they will likely be thrown around the ring mat like a rag doll if Bader is able to get a hold

of them.

Early life and career

Before coming to Mixed Martial Arts, Ryan Bader was an amateur wrestler. He was a two-time all-

American and a three-time Pac-10 Champion early on. He wrestled with the likes of Cain Velasquez

and CB Dollaway. Ryan Bader fought in fight-promotions outside the UFC for the first two years of

his career. Ryan Bader made his debut in the UFC when he competed in The Ultimate Fighter, taking

on Vinny Magalhaes and beating him. The win saw him win The Ultimate Fighter Light Heavyweight

Tournament.

UFC Career

From there, Ryan Bader would go on to have a winning streak for the next four fights. He defeated a

number of tough fighters, including Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Unfortunately for him, here he would

be confronted with Jon Jones, and that was one challenge he was not able to overcome. He lost in

the second, round and this loss was followed by another loss to Tito Ortiz. For the next 5 years,

Bader continued to fight in the UFC, winning most of his fights.

Current Status

In 2017, Ryan Bader made the shift to Bellator, where he immediately won the Bellator Light

Heavyweight Championship and defended it in the following fight. Currently, he reached the final of

the Bellator Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament, where he will fight for the Heavyweight

Championship against Fedor Emelianenko. His win-loss figures stand at 26-5.