Ryan Bader
Born
Ryan Bader
(1983-06-07) June 7, 1983 (age 41)
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Other names
Darth
Height
6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight
235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb)
Division
Light Heavyweight (2007–2021)
Heavyweight (2018–present)
Reach
74 in (188 cm)[1]
Stance
Fighting out of
Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
Team
Arizona Combat Sports (2007–2010)[2]
Power MMA Team (2010–present)[3]
Rank
Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jair Lourenço Gurgel[4]
Wrestling
Years active
2007–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total
40
Wins
31
By knockout
13
By submission
3
By decision
15
Losses
8
By knockout
6
By submission
2
No contests
1
Other information
University
Spouse
Daisy Bader
Website
Medal record
Representing the Arizona State Sun Devils
2003 Boise
197 lb
2004 Fargo
197 lb
2006 Fullerton
197 lb
Ryan DuWayne Bader[6] (/ˈbeɪdər/ BAY-dər; born June 7, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion in a continuous streak that is the longest of any Bellator Champion. He is also the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, and the winner of the 2018 Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament. At Bellator 214, Bader became the first fighter in Bellator history to become champion in two weight divisions simultaneously. Prior to signing with Bellator, Bader competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Light Heavyweight division and he was a cast member and winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.
Ryan Bader was born in Reno, Nevada and started wrestling at the age of seven. He entered mixed martial arts after a successful career in amateur wrestling. He attended Robert McQueen High School in Reno, where he won two Nevada state championships and was ranked as high as fourth in the country for wrestling. In football, Bader was the 2001 Nevada Defensive Player of the Year and helped the McQueen Lancers win the Nevada state championship title.[7]
Bader attended Arizona State University on a wrestling scholarship, where he was college teammates with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and CB Dollaway. While attending ASU, Bader was a three-time Pac-10 Champion, winning titles in 2003, 2004, and 2006. He was also a two-time NCAA All-American, placing fourth in 2004 as a sophomore and seventh in 2006 as a senior at the NCAA national tournament. From 2003 to 2005, Bader compiled a collegiate wrestling record of 88 wins and 34 losses.[8] He began training at Arizona Combat Sports in early 2007.
Bader's UFC career began as a contestant on season 8ofThe Ultimate Fighter. Bader, the first light heavyweight selected by coach Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, went on to win his first three fights on the show to fight with Vinicius Magalhães on December 13, 2008, at The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale.
At the finale, Bader defeated Magalhães by way of a quick, first-round knockout, earning the title of "The Ultimate Fighter" and winning the traditional "six-figure UFC contract". An overhand right dropped Magalhães, and Bader followed up with strikes on the ground to take the win, less than halfway through the first round.
Bader's first post-TUF fight was at UFC Fight Night 18 against Carmelo Marrero, whom he defeated via unanimous decision, scoring 30–27 on all three judges' scorecards. During the match, Bader tore his medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament, which kept him sidelined until the next fall.
Shortly after the Marrero fight, Bader appeared alongside fellow Ultimate Fighter 8 winner Efrain Escudero in the UFC's sixth video game, UFC 2009 Undisputed. He and Escudero were available through a special code obtained by pre-ordering the game from GameStop.[9] On September 10, 2009, he and Escudero were made available for download on PlayStation Network and Xbox 360 Marketplace.
Bader returned against Eric Schafer on October 24, 2009, at UFC 104.[10] The fight was mainly dominated by Bader, who scored with a powerful attack of combinations standing and controlled the grappling, en route a unanimous decision victory (30–27, 29–26, and 30–27).
Next for Bader was Keith Jardine, who he fought on February 21, 2010, at the UFC's debut effort in Australia, UFC 110.[11] Bader scored a sharp jab on the tiring Jardine, which set up a flying knee to the chest and a left hook at 2:10 of the third round to secure a KO victory for Bader.
Along with Jesse Forbes, CB Dollaway, Eric Larkin and Aaron Simpson, Bader left Arizona Combat Sports to train at their newly opened gym Power MMA And Fitness.[12]
Bader moved his UFC record to 5–0 at the expense of Antônio Rogério NogueiraatUFC 119, controlling him most of the fight with his wrestling and using his jab and short combinations to stop much of Nogueira's offense. All three judges scored the fight 30–27 for Bader.[13]
Four months after his victory over Nogueira, Bader fought fellow rising prospect Jon Jones on February 5, 2011, at UFC 126,[14] where he received the first loss of his MMA career after tapping out to a modified guillotine choke in the second round.
In a massive upset, Bader lost to Tito Ortiz on July 2, 2011, at UFC 132 by an arm-in guillotine choke which Ortiz secured following a knockdown of Bader.[15]
Bader then faced Jason Brilz on November 19, 2011, at UFC 139.[16] He defeated Brilz at 1:17 of the first round via KO, landing a straight right behind Brilz's ear causing him to immediately fall to the mat face-first.[17]
Bader next faced former Light Heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson on February 26, 2012, at UFC 144.[18] Jackson weighed in over the Light Heavyweight weight allowance of 206 lbs by 5 lbs, weighing in at 211 lbs.[19] Bader accepted the fight at a catchweight and received 20% of Jackson's purse. Bader won via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 30–27.[20]
Bader faced Lyoto Machida on August 4, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera.[21] He was defeated via KO at 1:32 in the second round, after rushing in and being caught with a punch.[22]
Bader faced former title challenger Vladimir Matyushenko on January 26, 2013, at UFC on Fox 6.[23] He won the fight via guillotine choke submission at just 50 seconds of the first round, earning his first Submission of the Night honors, and also having the fastest UFC Light Heavyweight submission.[24][25]
Bader was expected to face Glover Teixeira on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160.[26] However, Bader pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by James Te-Huna.[27]
The bout with Teixeira eventually took place on September 4, 2013, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 28.[28] Despite dropping Teixeira early in the first round, Bader lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[29]
Bader faced Anthony Perosh on December 7, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 33.[30] He won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–26). Bader dominated Perosh all 15 minutes of the three round contest using his superior wrestling.[31]
Bader faced Rafael Cavalcante on June 14, 2014, at UFC 174.[32][33] He won the fight via unanimous decision. Bader's wrestling was displayed once again, controlling Feijão the majority of the bout.[34]
Bader faced Ovince St. Preux on August 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux.[35] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[36]
Bader fought Phil Davis on January 24, 2015, at UFC on Fox 14.[37] He won the fight by split decision.[38]
Bader was expected to face Daniel Cormier on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68.[39] However, on April 28, 2015 it was announced that Cormier had been removed from the fight in favor of a matchup with Anthony Johnson on May 23, 2015 at UFC 187.[40]
Bader faced Rashad Evans on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192.[41] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]
Bader faced Anthony Johnson in the main event on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18.[43] His winning streak was interrupted, as he lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[44]
Bader next faced Ilir Latifi on September 3, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 93.[45] He won the fight via knockout in the second round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[46][47]
Bader faced Antônio Rogério Nogueira in a rematch on November 19, 2016, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 100.[48] He won the fight by TKO in the third round with ground and pound after dominating Nogueira on the mat.[49] Bader's fight against Nogueira was the last on his UFC contract and afterward he was a free agent.
On Ariel Helwani's podcast, the MMA Hour, Bader stated that he has a Bellator MMA contract on hand, that negotiations are in process, and that the UFC has the right to match the Bellator offer. If the UFC chose not to match then his desire would be for an immediate fight against the current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Phil Davis, whom he had beaten in the UFC. On March 21, 2017, Bader announced that the UFC had not sought to match Bellator's offer and that he had officially signed a six-fight deal with Bellator MMA.[50]
Bader was officially unveiled as a fighter for the company at Bellator 175. After the main event, Bader entered the cage and it was announced he would face Muhammed LawalatBellator 180 on June 24, 2017. However, Lawal pulled out of the fight and Bader faced Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Phil Davis in a rematch.[51] Bader and Davis first met at UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson on January 24, 2015, with Bader winning by split decision. Bader won the rematch again by split decision to become the new Light Heavyweight champion.[52]
In his first title defense, Bader faced Linton VassellatBellator 186 on November 3, 2017.[53] He won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Bader faced Muhammed Lawal in the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix for the Bellator Heavyweight championship at Bellator 199 on May 12, 2018. He won the fight via TKO 15 seconds into the first round.
Bader faced Matt Mitrione in the semi-finals at Bellator 207 on October 12, 2018.[54] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
In the final, Bader faced Fedor Emelianenko for the vacant Bellator Heavyweight World Championship in the main event at Bellator 214 on January 26, 2019.[56] Bader claimed the title by winning via knockout 35 seconds into the first round, thus becoming the first simultaneous two-weight champion in Bellator history.[57]
In April 2019, Bader signed an exclusive, multi-year and six-fight contract with Bellator.[58][59]
On July 11, 2019, it was announced that Bader is set to make his first heavyweight title defense against Cheick Kongo. This bout served as the headliner of Bellator 226 on September 7.[60] The bout ended in a no contest at 3:52 of the first round when Bader landed an accidental eye poke on Kongo that rendered him unable to continue, with Bader retaining his title.[61]
Bader was signed to defend his light heavyweight title against Vadim Nemkov atBellator 242 on May 9, 2020.[62] However, it was later announced that Bellator 242 and Bader's bout against Nemkov had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[63] The title bout with Nemkov was rescheduled and took place on August 21 at Bellator 244. Bader lost the bout via second-round technical knockout.[64]
On February 9, 2021, it was announced that Bader would be participating in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. He faced Lyoto Machida in the quarterfinal round. This was a rematch of their August 2012 bout, which saw Machida win via second-round knockout. The bout took place at Bellator 256 on April 9, 2021.[65] After Machida showed early success in the first two rounds on the feet via kicks, Bader soon controlled the rest of the bout on the ground, winning via a unanimous decision.[66]
In the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, Bader faced Corey Anderson on October 16, 2021 at Bellator 268.[67] He lost the fight via technical knockout less than a minute into round one.[68]
Bader defended his heavyweight title against Bellator Interim Heavyweight World Champion Valentin Moldavsky on January 29, 2022 at Bellator 273.[69] He won the close bout via unanimous decision.[70] 7 out of 11 media scores gave it to Moldavsky.[71]
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Bader defended his title in a rematch against Cheick Kongo on May 6, 2022 at Bellator 280.[72][73] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[74]
Bader defended his title in a rematch against Fedor Emelianenko on February 4, 2023 at Bellator 290.[75] He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the first round.[76]
Bader was set to defend his title in a rematch against Linton Vassell on October 7, 2023 at Bellator 300.[77] However, Vassell withdrew a few days before the event due to illness and the bout was cancelled.[78]
Bader faced 2023 PFL Heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in a three round non-title crossover fight at PFL vs. Bellator, on February 24, 2024.[79] He lost the bout via knockout just twenty-one seconds into the first round.[80]
Bader and his wife Daisy were married in October 2010.[81] They have two sons and a daughter.[82]
Bellator Heavyweight World Championship (One time; current)
Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship (One time; former)
Professional record breakdown
40 matches
31 wins
8 losses
By knockout
13
6
By submission
3
2
By decision
15
0
No contests
1
Res.
Record
Opponent
Method
Event
Date
Round
Time
Location
Notes
Loss
31–8 (1)
TKO (punches)
February 24, 2024
1
0:21
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
For "PFL Champion vs. Bellator Champion" Super Belt.
Win
31–7 (1)
TKO (punches)
February 4, 2023
1
2:30
Inglewood, California, United States
Defended the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Win
30–7 (1)
Decision (unanimous)
May 6, 2022
5
5:00
Paris, France
Defended the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship. Broke the record for the most consecutive Bellator Heavyweight World Championship title defenses (2).
Win
29–7 (1)
Decision (unanimous)
January 29, 2022
5
5:00
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Defended and unified the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Loss
28–7 (1)
TKO (punches)
October 16, 2021
1
0:51
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Semifinal.
Win
28–6 (1)
Decision (unanimous)
April 9, 2021
5
5:00
Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Loss
27–6 (1)
TKO (head kick and punches)
August 21, 2020
2
3:02
Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Lost the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
NC
27–5 (1)
NC (accidental eye poke)
September 7, 2019
1
3:52
San Jose, California, United States
Retained the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship. Accidental eye poke rendered Kongo unable to continue.
Win
27–5
TKO (punches)
January 26, 2019
1
0:35
Inglewood, California, United States
Won the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix and the vacant Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Win
26–5
Decision (unanimous)
October 12, 2018
3
5:00
Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Semifinal.
Win
25–5
TKO (punches)
May 12, 2018
1
0:15
San Jose, California, United States
Heavyweight debut. Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal.
Win
24–5
TKO (punches)
November 3, 2017
2
3:58
University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
Defended the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Win
23–5
Decision (split)
June 24, 2017
5
5:00
New York City, New York, United States
Won the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship.
Win
22–5
TKO (punches)
UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Nogueira 2
November 19, 2016
3
3:51
São Paulo, Brazil
Win
21–5
KO (knee)
UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Barnett
September 3, 2016
2
2:06
Hamburg, Germany
Performance of the Night.
Loss
20–5
KO (punches)
January 30, 2016
1
1:26
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win
20–4
Decision (unanimous)
October 3, 2015
3
5:00
Houston, Texas, United States
Win
19–4
Decision (split)
UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson
January 24, 2015
3
5:00
Stockholm, Sweden
Win
18–4
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. Saint Preux
August 16, 2014
5
5:00
Bangor, Maine, United States
Win
17–4
Decision (unanimous)
June 14, 2014
3
5:00
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Win
16–4
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot
December 7, 2013
3
5:00
Brisbane, Australia
Loss
15–4
TKO (punches)
UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader
September 4, 2013
1
2:55
Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win
15–3
Submission (guillotine choke)
UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson
January 26, 2013
1
0:50
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Submission of the Night.
Loss
14–3
KO (punch)
August 4, 2012
2
1:32
Los Angeles, California, United States
Win
14–2
Decision (unanimous)
February 26, 2012
3
5:00
Saitama, Japan
Catchweight (211 lbs) bout; Jackson missed weight.
Win
13–2
KO (punch)
November 19, 2011
1
1:17
San Jose, California, United States
Loss
12–2
Submission (guillotine choke)
July 2, 2011
1
1:56
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss
12–1
Submission (guillotine choke)
February 5, 2011
2
4:20
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
12–0
Decision (unanimous)
September 25, 2010
3
5:00
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Win
11–0
KO (flying knee and punch)
February 21, 2010
3
2:10
Sydney, Australia
Win
10–0
Decision (unanimous)
October 24, 2009
3
5:00
Los Angeles, California, United States
Win
9–0
Decision (unanimous)
UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann
April 1, 2009
3
5:00
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Win
8–0
TKO (punches)
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir Finale
December 13, 2008
1
2:18
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Won The Ultimate Fighter 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament.
Win
7–0
Buckley Acosta
Submission (arm-triangle choke)
XCC 6: Western Threat
April 5, 2008
1
0:47
Reno, Nevada, United States
Win
6–0
Brad Peterson
Decision (unanimous)
IFO: Fireworks in the Cage IV
December 28, 2007
3
5:00
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win
5–0
Ulises Cortez
KO (suplex and punches)
SE: Vale Tudo
October 27, 2007
1
N/A
Mexico
Win
4–0
Dicky Chavez
TKO (punches)
September 15, 2007
1
0:41
San Carlos, Arizona, United States
Win
3–0
Tim Peacock
TKO (punches)
WFC: Rumble in the Red Rocks
June 9, 2007
2
2:50
Camp Verde, Arizona, United States
Win
2–0
David Baggett
Submission (rear-naked choke)
Proving Grounds 1
May 12, 2007
1
N/A
Cayman Islands
Win
1–0
Dave Covello
TKO (submission to punches)
Reno Combats: Inferno 2
March 31, 2007
1
2:21
Camp Verde, Arizona, United States
Exhibition record breakdown
3 matches
3 wins
0 losses
By knockout
1
0
By submission
1
0
By decision
1
0
Res.
Record
Opponent
Method
Event
Date
Round
Time
Location
Notes
Win
3–0
Decision (unanimous)
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir
June 25, 2008 (airdate)
2
5:00
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
The Ultimate Fighter 8 semifinal round.
Win
2–0
KO (punch)
May 28, 2008 (airdate)
1
3:44
The Ultimate Fighter 8 quarterfinal round.
Win
1–0
Submission (arm-triangle choke)
May 21, 2008 (airdate)
2
1:33
The Ultimate Fighter 8 preliminary round.
No
Event
Fight
Date
Venue
City
PPV buys
1.
Ferreira vs. Bader
February 24, 2024
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Not Disclosed[90]
NCAA Championships Matches
Res.
Record
Opponent
Score
Date
Event
2006 NCAA Championships at 197 lbs
Loss
10-7
Joel Flaggert
4-9
March 17, 2006
2006 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win
10-6
Nathan Moore
6-4
Loss
9-6
7-10
Win
9-5
Tyrone Byrd
6-0
Win
8-5
Bredan McLean
Fall
2005 NCAA Championships at 197 lbs
Loss
7-5
Joel Flaggert
5-1
March 17, 2005
2005 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Win
7-4
Joel Weimer
3-2
Loss
6-4
1-3
Win
6-3
Tyrone Byrd
7-3
2004 NCAA Championships 4th at 197 lbs
Win
5-3
Chris Skretkowicz
5-1
March 20, 2004
2004 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Loss
4-3
Damion Hahn
1-2
Win
4-2
B.J. Padden
5-3
Win
3-2
Joel Weimer
4-1
Win
2-2
Jeff Foust
7-0
2003 NCAA Championships at 197 lbs
Loss
1-2
Matt Greenberg
Major 1-14
March 20, 2003
2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Loss
1-1
Jon Trenge
Major 2-11
Win
1-0
Adam Schaaf
OT 6-4
Men's
Raufeon Stots (interim)
Women's
Vitaly Minakov Ryan Bader (current) Valentin Moldavsky (interim) Emanuel Newton (ic) Emanuel Newton
Liam McGeary Phil Davis Ryan Bader Vadim Nemkov (current)Season (Winner)
Finale
