4 Fights for Ryan Bader to Take Next

At UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Johnson, Ryan Bader narrowly defeated Phil Davis in a methodical, slow-paced fight that wasn’t exactly fan-friendly.

The two negated each other’s grappling, and the fight was primarily contested on the feet. Neither fighter really got after it by trying to finish the other or throw any strikes with significant power or intent. It was a close fight, and Bader left with the victory by split-decision, notching his fourth straight win.

The UFC light heavyweight division isn’t the most talent-rich. The fighter Bader faces next depends on what path the UFC decides to take him on. There aren’t a lot of light heavyweights to start with, and there is a noticeable drop-off in the level of competition outside of the top six-to-10 fighters.

Bader can either take a fight with someone ranked above him, such as Rashad Evans or Daniel Cormier, or he could go up against some of the rising talent in the division like Patrick Cummins or the winner of the upcoming Jan Blachowicz vs. Jimi Manuwa bout in April.

Let’s take a look at four fighters that would be good options for Ryan Bader’s next fight.

No. 4: Patrick Cummins

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Cummins has come a long way from being the barista who got squashed by Daniel Cormier on a single week’s notice. The loss to Cormier in his UFC debut is Cummins’ only career loss, and he has rebounded with three straight UFC victories.

He has shown smothering wrestling skills as well as knockout power. The powerful wrestling base of Cummins would be a good test for Bader, as Cummins would be relentless in trying to get the fight to the ground. Bader would also provide a good step-up in competition for Cummins, who has been looking better and better each time out.

No. 3: Winner of Jackson vs. Maldonado

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“Rampage” Jackson is returning to the UFC after going on a three-fight winning streak in Bellator to take on hard-hitting headhunter Fabio Maldonado at UFC 186 on April 25. Maldonado can endure punishment like few others and has the power to drop you. This fight will more than likely be a slugfest, and whoever is left standing would be a good next opponent for Ryan Bader.

Bader has been lulling us to sleep in the cage and needs to face someone who will register a bit higher on the excitement meter. He needs to face someone who’s going to really try to put him away and keep moving forward. Both Jackson and Maldonado would pose that type of threat.

Though he already holds a decision win against Rampage from February 2012, if Jackson wins in his UFC return, it would be a good chance for him to avenge one of the losses that ended his first run in the UFC.

No. 2: Winner of Blachowicz vs. Manuwa

The UFC will be holding its first event in Poland this year, and one of the bouts on the card features Jan Blachowicz vs. Jimi Manuwa in a battle of dangerous light heavyweight strikers. Blachowicz is on a six-fight winning streak and made an impressive UFC debut in October by stopping Ilir Latifi with a kick to the body and punches in the first round.

Manuwa is looking to rebound from his first professional loss, a first-round TKO to Alexander Gustafsson in March 2014. Manuwa is capable of landing some vicious knees and strikes to the body, and if he beats Blachowicz, he would be a very credible next opponent for Bader as he looks to get back to title contention.

No. 1: Rashad Evans

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Evans has stated recently that due to his friend and training partner Anthony Johnson working his way into title contention at 205 pounds, he may make the move to middleweight. If he decides not to cut the extra twenty pounds to hit 185, there are still a few fights for him at light heavyweight.

A fight between Evans and Bader would be good for both men. Evans can make his return to action and take out a fighter who is ranked in the Top 10. And if Bader can beat Evans, he will have finally earned a No. 1-contender fight and beaten an elite-level fighter.  

Evans’ striking is much more dangerous than that of Phil Davis, so if the two do end up negating each other in the wrestling department, Evans would still test Bader standing up.