UFC 144 Results: Ryan Bader Gets First Marquee Win vs. Rampage Jackson

After defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 144 on Saturday night, Ryan Bader finally has a marquee victory on his mixed martial arts resume. 

It is no secret that 2011 was a rough year for Bader. It started off with a loss against Jon Jones, who you may have heard of, and then a shocking loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 132. 

Bader did get back on track with a victory against Jason Brillz at UFC 139, but now he can add a true star to the list of fighters that he has knocked off. 

What Does It Mean?

While Bader still has a long way to go before getting back into light heavyweight title contention, this victory is a positive sign that he is turning a corner. 

His resume, at least up to this point, has been missing that certain something to make it stand out. He has beaten quality fighters before—Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Keith Jardine—but nothing to give him that push he needs. 

Jackson may not be the fighter he was in his prime, but fans still latch on to the name. Star power is just as important as being a good fighter. 

Bader's star is on the rise once again. 

What Happens Next?

Following his victory, Bader could go in a number of different directions. One fight that would make sense for everyone involved would be Bader against Phil Davis. 

Both are terrific wrestlers who are still trying to improve in the stand-up game, and have had marquee fights in the last two months. 

Another possible bout for Bader could be against Lyoto Machida, who is still reeling from his loss against Jon Jones in December. 

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