Ryan Bader

Ryan “Darth” Bader is the Arizona State wrestler who won The Ultimate Fighter 8 in 2008 and spent eight years as a UFC light heavyweight contender, beating Rampage Jackson, Rafael Cavalcante and Ovince Saint Preux along the way.

He moved to Bellator in 2016 and became the first fighter to hold two Bellator titles at once, winning the light heavyweight belt from Phil Davis and the 2018–19 Heavyweight Grand Prix with a 35-second knockout of Fedor Emelianenko. CagePotato covered his TUF win and his Bellator double.

Ryan Bader fact file
Full nameRyan Bader
NicknameDarth
Date of birth
Place of birthReno, Nevada, USA
Organisations fought in
  • UFC
  • Bellator
  • PFL
  • King of the Cage
  • Rizin
Accolades
  • Bellator Heavyweight Champion (three title defences)
  • Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion
  • Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner (2019)
  • The Ultimate Fighter 8 light heavyweight winner

End of content

End of content