Ryan Bader (born June 30, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight and light‑heavyweight divisions of Bellator MMA. He previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is a former UFC Light Heavyweight contender.
Early life and background
- Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
- Education: Attended St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, where he wrestled and played football. He later wrestled at the University of Missouri, earning All‑American honors and graduating with a degree in finance.
Mixed martial arts career
Early professional work (2006–2009)
Bader began his professional MMA career in 2006, competing primarily in regional promotions such as the International Fight League (IFL) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). He compiled a record of 7–1 before signing with the UFC.
UFC (2009–2013)
- Debut: UFC 101 (July 2009), defeating Lyoto Machida via split decision.
- Notable fights: Wins over James Te-Huna, Antônio Rogério Nogueira, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson; losses to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (UFC 161) and Jon Jones (UFC 165).
- Rankings: Reached as high as #3 in the UFC light‑heavyweight rankings during his tenure.
- Record in UFC: 8 wins, 5 losses.
Bellator MMA (2014–present)
- Signing: Joined Bellator in early 2014.
- Championships: Became the inaugural Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion after defeating Phil Davis at Bellator 120 (April 2014).
- Pioneer Heavyweight–Light Heavyweight Double Champion: In 2018, Bader secured the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship by defeating Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 219, holding both titles simultaneously—a first in the promotion’s history.
- Title defenses: Successfully defended the Light Heavyweight title multiple times against fighters such as Phil Davis (rematch), Linton Vassell, and Vadim Nemkov.
- Current status: As of 2024, Bader continues to compete in both divisions, with recent fights documented through Bellator’s official records.
Fighting style
- Base: Collegiate wrestling, utilizing strong takedown control and top‑position grappling.
- Striking: Developed knockout power, particularly with overhand punches, resulting in a high proportion of wins by KO/TKO.
- Grappling: Holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu under Roberto “Robo” de Souza.
Personal life
- Married to Nicole Bader; the couple has children.
- Involved in charitable work related to youth sports programs in the St. Louis area.
- Occasionally works as a commentator and analyst for MMA broadcasting networks.
Championships and accomplishments
- Bellator MMA
- Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion (first reign, 2014–2022) – multiple‑time title defender.
- Bellator Heavyweight World Champion (first reign, 2018–2020).
- Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix 2023 winner.
- UFC
- Earned Fight of the Night honors versus Quinton Jackson (UFC 144).
- Amateur wrestling
- NCAA Division I All‑American (University of Missouri).
Professional record (as of July 2026)
- Total fights: 36
- Wins: 26 (13 KO/TKO, 5 submissions, 8 decisions)
- Losses: 10 (5 KO/TKO, 2 submissions, 3 decisions)
All statistics are compiled from publicly available fight databases and Bellator/UFC official records.
