FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Ryan Bader

FightPost MMA Fighter of the Week: Ryan Bader

By Kieran Cobley 

This week’s ‘Fighter of the Week’ honours go to Ryan Bader following his first round KO of possibly the greatest MMA fighter of all time, Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 214.

Bader was a 1/4 favourite coming into this fight, as he faced off against Fedor who had announced this would be his farewell fight, and that he would be hanging up his gloves after this fight.

The two were set for five 5 minute rounds that would not only crown Bellator’s heavyweight champion, but the winner of it’s heavyweight grand prix.

“Darth” only needed 30 seconds though, as he landed a heavy left hand to Fedor’s chin, KO’ing the Russian, with just the one shot.

This win takes Bader to a record of 27-5, with the American on a winning 12 of his last 13 fights.

Not only this but Bader is Bellator’s first ever double champion as he came into the grand prix as the light heavyweight champion of the promotion.

So, what’s next for Bader?

Well, the newest champ-champ has joked about the prospect of taking on UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier to see who is the “champ-champ-champ-champ”, but it looks more likely he will probably take on one of the fighters who was eliminated in the grand prix.

Honourable mentions this week are given to: Henry Corrales who KO’d prospect Aaron Pico in the first round of their fight; Jake Hager (FKA Jack Swagger)who showed he won’t be CM Punk version 2.0 as he won his professional debut against JW Kisser and Adriano Moraes who beat Geje Eustaquio to win back his 135lbs title and win their trilogy, two fights to one.