Ryan Bader News
Ryan Bader set for TUF return as a coach on Team Chandler
Susan Cox - February 22, 2023
Ryan Bader is set to return to TUF as a coach on Team Chandler. The former UFC light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader (31-7 MMA), who currently fights under the Bellator banner, will be heading back to the UFC to assist head coach Michael Chandler in Season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Ryan Bader hoping to face Francis Ngannou next to prove legitimacy as champion: "To to go out there and beat him, and there’s no question I'm legit"
Josh Evanoff - February 7, 2023
Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader is hoping that he can share the cage with Francis Ngannou. ‘Darth’ returned over the weekend in the main event of Bellator 290. In the headliner, Bader faced Fedor Emelianenko in a rematch of their 2019 meeting. In the finals of the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix four years prior, ‘The Last Emperor’ lost by first-round stoppage.
Ryan Bader hits back at reported payout against Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 290: "I wouldn’t be fighting if I was making that"
Josh Evanoff - February 6, 2023
Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader made much more than reported on Saturday night. ‘Darth’ returned over the weekend at Bellator 290 against Fedor Emelianenko. The bout was actually a rematch of their prior clash in the finals of the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix. In that January 2019 outing, Bader won by first-round knockout.
Bellator 290 disclosed fight purses: Champions Ryan Bader and Johnny Eblen lead the way
Fernando Quiles - February 5, 2023
Bellator 290 is in the books and disclosed fighter purses have rolled out. The event was held inside the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Headlining the show was a Bellator Heavyweight Championship clash, which also happened to be the final fight in the pro MMA career of Fedor Emelianenko. Ryan Bader defeated Emelianenko via first-round TKO to retain the gold. The co-main event also featured a title fight. Johnny Eblen successfully defended the Bellator Middleweight Championship against Anatoly Tokov via unanimous decision. The main card opened up with a welterweight collision between Brennan Ward and Sabah Homasi. Ward scored the second-round TKO victory.
Bellator 290 Results: Ryan Bader stops Fedor Emelianenko in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - February 4, 2023
Tonight’s Bellator 290 main event features a heavyweight title fight rematch between Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader. The MMA legend and arguably greatest heavyweight of all time, Emelianenko (40-6 MMA), will be making his final cage appearance this evening. ‘The Last Emperor‘ is coming off back-to-back first-round knockout victories over Timothy Johnson and Quinton Jackson in his most recent efforts. Those wins were preceded by a TKO loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 214, in a bout that lasted just 35-seconds.
Bellator 290: 'Bader vs. Fedor 2' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - February 4, 2023
The cage returns to Inglewood, California, for tonight’s Bellator 290 event, a 14-bout fight card headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Ryan Bader 2. The MMA legend and arguably greatest heavyweight of all time, Emelianenko (40-6 MMA), will be making his final cage appearance this evening. ‘The Last Emperor‘ is coming off back-to-back first-round knockout victories over Timothy Johnson and Quinton Jackson in his most recent efforts. Those wins were preceded by a TKO loss to Ryan Bader at Bellator 214, in a bout that lasted just 35-seconds.
Pro fighters make their picks for Ryan Bader vs. Fedor Emelianenko 2 title fight
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2023
In the main event of Bellator 290, the heavyweight title is up for grabs as Ryan Bader rematches Fedor Emelianenko, in the Russian’s retirement fight. Heading into the fight, Bader is a -330 favorite while the Russian is a +275 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The pros are unanimous in thinking Bader gets his hand raised again but many are rooting for Emelianenko to get the win.
Ryan Bader believes Cain Velasquez was the “best” heavyweight not Bellator 290 opponent Fedor Emelianenko
Cole Shelton - January 31, 2023
Ryan Bader thinks Cain Velasquez is the best heavyweight ever. The heavyweight GOAT is one many have no clear-cut answer on, as some think it is Velasquez while others lean towards Fedor Emelianenko or even Stipe Miocic. Yet Bader believes Emelianenko’s resume is the best out of anyone but he thinks Velasquez was the most skilled.
Bellator's Scott Coker provides update on Fedor Emelianenko retirement fight, reveals hope for Ryan Bader rematch: "He wants a revenge fight"
Josh Evanoff - October 4, 2022
Bellator president Scott Coker has revealed who Fedor Emelianenko could fight next. ‘The Last Emperor’ has been out of action since his knockout victory over Tim Johnson in October 2021. The bout moved Emelianenko to a two-fight winning streak, as he had previously finished Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in Japan in December 2019.
Scott Coker reveals Fedor Emelianenko hoping to face Ryan Bader in retirement fight: "We’ll definitely consider it"
Josh Evanoff - July 25, 2022
Scott Coker has revealed that Bellator heavyweights Fedor Emelianenko and Ryan Bader could faceoff once again. ‘The Last Emperor’ has been out of the cage since his knockout of Tim Johnson last October. The victory moved his current winning streak to two, as he previously defeated Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in December 2019.
Bellator 280 Results: Ryan Bader defeats Cheick Kongo (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - May 6, 2022
Tonight’s Bellator 280 event is headlined by a heavyweight title fight rematch between Ryan Bader and Cheick Kongo. Bader (30-7 MMA) and Kongo (31-12-2 MMA) first met at Bellator 226 in September of 2019, with the bout ending in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.
Bellator 273 Results: Ryan Bader defeats Valentin Moldavsky (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - January 29, 2022
Tonight’s Bellator 273 event is headlined by a heavyweight title unification bout between Ryan Bader and Valentin Moldavsky. Bader (28-7 MMA), the promotions reigning heavyweight champion, will be returning to the division for the first time in twenty-eight months. ‘Darth’ has spent his last three contests competing at light heavyweight, where he went 1-2, this while dropping the 205lbs title to Vadim Nemkov.
Ryan Bader open to Fedor rematch, but admits it's a "lose-lose" situation
Josh Evanoff - January 28, 2022
Ryan Bader is currently set to fight Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273. Despite his focus being on the interim champion, there’s still a massive looming figure in the form of Fedor Emelianenko. ‘Darth’ defeated the Russian in the finals of the 2018 Bellator heavyweight Grand-Prix. With the win, Bader became one of the few to defeat the legend, and also claimed the promotion’s heavyweight title.
Ryan Bader issues statement following knockout loss to Corey Anderson at Bellator 268
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
Former Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader issued a statement following his knockout loss to Corey Anderson at Bellator 268. Bader suffered a first-round knockout loss when he was caught with an Anderson punch early on in their fight and then finished with ground and pound. For Bader, it was a disappointing loss after beating up Lyoto Machida in his last outing to advance to the tournament semifinals. The former Ultimate Fighter winner is still the Bellator heavyweight champion, but he has struggled as a light heavyweight as he’s lost two of his last three fights in the weight class by knockout to Anderson and to champ Vadim Nemkov before.
Corey Anderson reacts after knocking out Ryan Bader at Bellator 268
Adam D Martin - October 18, 2021
Former UFC light heavyweight contender and current Bellator standout Corey Anderson reacted after knocking out Ryan Bader at Bellator 268. Anderson knocked Bader out on Saturday night in the semifinals of the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. For Anderson, it’s his third straight knockout win since joining Bellator and he is looking every bit the part of a world champion. By finishing Bader in such a devastating fashion, Anderson has advanced to the finals of the $1 million tournament. In 2022, Anderson will face off against Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who advanced to the tournament finals with a submission win over Julius Anglickas. Between Anderson and Nemkov, there is a lot of talent in the tournament finals.
Pros react after Corey Anderson TKO's Ryan Bader at Bellator 268
Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021
Tonight’s Bellator 268 event was co-headlined by a light heavyweight grand prix semifinal bout which pits Corey Anderson up against Ryan Bader. Bader (28-7 MMA) had advanced to the tournament semifinals by earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Lyoto Machida. Prior to that win, ‘Darth‘ was coming off a TKO loss to Vadim Nemkov, where he surrendered the promotions 205lbs title.
Bellator 268: 'Nemkov vs Anglickas' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - October 16, 2021
MMA action returns to Phoenix this evening for Bellator 268, a thirteen-bout fight card headlined by Vadim Nemkov vs. Julius Anglickas. Nemkov (14-2 MMA) will be looking to earn his second career title defense, this while securing a spot in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix finals. The Russian standout last competed in April where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Phil Davis.
Ryan Bader has been pushing for using 'The Master' nickname to no avail
Drake Riggs - October 15, 2021
PHOENIX — Ryan Bader is known as “Darth” when entering the cage. However, the current Bellator heavyweight champ has hoped to use another nickname. Bader is 13-2 (1 no contest) in his last 16 bouts overall putting him on the most dominant stretch of his career by capturing titles in two weight classes. Therefore utilizing the nickname of “The Master” seems fitting… until piecing it all together.