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Ryan Bader is not short of motivation as he enters the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Not only will Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) have the potential opportunity to regain the Bellator light heavyweight title he lost in August, but he could possibly avenge up to three of his six losses in career.
His only professional losses were Jon Jones, Tito Ortiz, Glover Teixeira, Lyoto Machida, Anthony Johnson and Nemkov. The second half of those names are three of eight contenders in Bellator’s 205-pound tournament.
While revivals against Johnson and Nemkov are not guaranteed, a Machida revival is already in store. On April 9 at Bellator 256, Bader and Machida (26-10 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) will fight again – almost nine years after Machida won their first fight by knockout in the second round.
“I would love to avenge the loss to Machida,” Bader told MMA Junkie at a virtual press conference Tuesday after an event announcing the grand prize. “It’s a good indicator to see where I’m from when I literally didn’t know anything striking about where I am now. When he came to the Bellator, it’s a fight I’ve always had my eye on.
The most recent loss Bader suffered was to Nemkov, who won the Bellator light heavyweight title with a fierce TKO in the second round. With good preparation this time around, Bader thinks he could get his gold back.
“As for Nemkov, of course he’s got the belt right now and I really want revenge for that with good preparation for this fight – and some weight reduction,” Bader said. “Entering it, I have the impression that it would be another story. … (Last time) I felt flat. I felt different in this last time. It was just when I was in my own head, ‘Alright, I have to get things done. It is not going well. This is where I was kicked in the head. I would really love to go back to the drawing board and get that one back.
When asked about revenge for a loss to Johnson, Bader did not go into details. While he expressed doubts about the likelihood the cards would play where he faced the previous three enemies, he expressed confidence that 2021 would be a year for redemption.
“This is a year of redemption,” Bader said. “Especially with who’s in this tournament. I won’t be able to fight them all. I’m probably going to be able to fight two of them, potentially. That’s all I can do on my own.
The Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix kicks off on April 9 at Bellator 256, when Bader vs. Machida and Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov take place as the first two quarter-finals. A week later at Bellator 257, Johnson will fight Yoel Romero and Nemkov will defend his title against Phil Davis in the other two quarter-finals.
All four fights will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
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