UFC 139 Results: Where Does Ryan Bader Rank at Light Heavyweight?

Ryan Bader may have dominated Jason Brilz, but this doesn't mean that Bader is a top-echelon light heavyweight.

The NCAA Division-I wrestler burst onto the scene on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter reality series where he won the light heavyweight portion of the tournament. After that, he instantly became a hot prospect at light heavyweight.

But did he deserve this status at all?

Bader's victories in the UFC were over Vinny Magalhaes, Carmelo Marrero, Eric Schafer, Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (also known as Lil' Nog). Four of those men departed from the UFC at some point after losing to Bader (although Schafer would eventually return).

After beating gatekeepers and an overrated "legend" in Rogerio Noguiera, there was talk of Bader being the next big thing at light heavyweight.

He was therefore paired up with the other next big thing, Jon Jones.

Jones made short work of Bader and got the MMA world questioning just how good he was.

If Jones got the world asking about Bader's questioning abilities, Tito Ortiz confirmed these notions by stumbling Bader with a short right hand and then choking him out.

After this fight, Bader was considered a glorified can.

Fortunately for him, he was given a chance at redemption against Jason Brilz. Bader was simply too much for Brilz and he won by TKO.

Bader was seemingly "back."

But does this mean that Bader is one of the best in the division?

Hardly. Bader has yet to beat anyone of real talent. Until then, he's just an average fighter at light heavyweight.