The Question: Why Should Anyone Care About Daniel Cormier Versus Ryan Bader?

Daniel Cormier's has been a career of "almosts." Starting in college, where he went 0-6 against his nemesis Cael Sanderson, he's spent years climbing the mountain top—only to fall short again and again when the summit was in view.

Fourth at the Olympic Games. Third at the World Championships. And, perhaps most germane to this discussion, a unanimous decision loss to Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in January.

Circumstances, however, have conspired in Cormier's favor. Thanks to Jones' legal problems and out-of-control lifestyle, Cormier got a second chance to write his name in the history books, beating Anthony Johnson with conviction to claim the vacated championships. Finally, though not in ideal circumstances, Cormier has achieved a life's dream.

Of course, as UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes famously declared, you aren't really the champion until you keep somebody from taking what's yours. For Cormier, that means a successful title defense is required before he can officially settle in as the top dog. And it's here where the problems start.

Unfortunately for Cormier, there are few marketable matchups on the horizon. Between Jones, Cormier and Johnson, there are few contenders still standing in a division that suddenly looks awfully thin.

One name bandied about is Ryan Bader, the wrestling standout who Jones demolished with shocking ease. Does he make sense as an opponent capable of legitimizing Cormier's reign? Can a Bader vs. Cormier matchup do anything to convince people the new champion has a chance against a returning Jones one day soon?

It's a tricky question. That's why Bleacher Report has called on their own version of Statler and Waldorf, lead writers Jonathan Snowden and Jeremy Botter, to harrumph their way through and answer. 

Jeremy Botter: Jonathan, I have to admit something here, right off the top—I have mixed feelings about this fight. 

It has become quite clear that the quickest way to the top in the UFC—or at least the fastest path to a title shot—isn't through fighting, but through being loud and sometimes acting like an idiot. In my view, that's what we've seen here. Bader was scheduled to face off against Cormier in June, and so I suppose it's still a logical fight to make. But that was when Cormier was coming off a loss, and before he was the champion. 

Things have changed, and I'm not sure Bader is deserving of a shot at the championship at this point, regardless of who is holding the belt, or if it's even something you consider a real belt. Or maybe he is. He's won four in a row, which is more than anyone else in the light heavyweight top 5 can say.

But something about the way it went down, with Bader charging Cormier at a press conference, just doesn't sit right with me. Maybe it's because, before that incident happened, folks would have laughed at the notion of Bader getting a title shot. But then afterwards, everyone from the media to the fans fawned over it like it was the second coming of a great WWE storyline.

Why do harsh words exchanged in public make people want to see a fight? Haven't we learned our lesson by now?

Jonathan Snowden: In my circles, a viciously cynical lot to be certain, Bader's press conference performance was met with a significant amount of eye rolling. The hardcores at least, weren't buying his tired act.

After all, no matter how loud you are, no matter how often you do the old "hold me back guys, hold me back" routine, you're still Ryan Bader.

You remember Ryan Bader right? To refresh your memory, he's the guy who's lost almost every meaningful fight in his career, from a 2011 bout with Tito Ortiz to a 2013 knockout defeat at the hands of Glover Teixeira.

As a title challenger he's nothing more than a resume line item—one quickly forgotten and dismissed from memory.

The fact that a handful of marginal wins over lesser lights qualifies his for this opportunity is kind of a problem. Why have we decided, as a sport, to value those victories so disproportionately?

Had he beaten Cormier in an alternate universe at an alternate show in New Orleans, sure, we'd consider him an appropriate challenger. But decision wins over the now departed Phil Davis and Anthony Perosh? Sorry, but that doesn't cut it for me.

Opponent	Method	Event	Date
Phil Davis	Decision (Split)	UFC on Fox 14	1/24/15
Ovince St_Preux	Decision	UFC Fight Night 47	8/16/14
Rafael Cavalcante	Decision	UFC 174	6/14/14
Anthony Perosh	Decision	UFC Fight Night 33	12/7/13

Jeremy: I blame Chael Sonnen, honestly. Not that Sonnen re-invented the wheel or anything; he actually just dug up old, forgotten wheels and put them on the road again.

But ever since Sonnen talked his way into three title shots in two divisions, everyone else in the world figures they can do the same thing. And you know what? It sure seems like they can. Because now we're faced with the prospect of Bader getting a title shot in a fight in which he will almost certainly be slaughtered.

But that's the UFC for you. Promotion is a good thing, but this should teach everyone an important lesson: promotion is the only thing that really matters. Whether you can fight or not (and Bader can fight; that's not what I'm saying here) is secondary.

I think my only favorite part of that stupid press conference blow-up was Joe Silva attempting to hold back Bader, as though Bader would not just throw Silva ten feet in the air if he elected to do so.

Steve Marcus/Getty Images

Jonathan: I think we're way too focused on winning streaks in MMA. Beating a few fighters who are pretty decent if you squint hard enough shouldn't be enough to earn a shot at ever-lasting glory.

Bader is a lesser version of Cormier in ever way. He's been less successful, he's less athletic, he's a less sophisticated striker and he's not nearly the wrestler Daniel is.

So why are we seeing this again?

I'd prefer to see Cormier wait for Jon Jones' inevitable return or to fight someone who matters—say a returning Alexander Gustafsson. No, Alex isn't on a winning streak. Neither was Cormier when he won the title.

What he is, again like Cormier, is the best fighter available. I'd rather see the best fighter rewarded over a manufactured winning streak. Do you think the powers-that-be are ready to embrace this kind of brave new path forward Jeremy?

Jeremy: I agree with you. I'd rather see Gustafsson or someone else step in there. Gustafsson was knocked out by Anthony Johnson, but there's no shame in that. Everyone (except Cormier) gets knocked out by Johnson.

Perhaps what Gustafsson needs to do is show up on an episode of UFC Tonight and attempt to hit Cormier with a chair?

As to your question: No, I do not believe the UFC will embrace this idea, but not because Gustafsson isn't deserving. Rather, it's because he's boring and because they don't have an upcoming show in Sweden to sell. If they did, you can bet your bottom dollar they'd go right ahead and book the fight.

Instead, we'll get Cormier vs. Bader in a fight where the only interest will be in how long it takes the champ to dispose of the challenger. That's unfortunate, but that's the way it goes when there's a "storyline" in the works, I guess.