Ryan Bader är i dagsläget rankad på fjärde plats över UFCs lätta tungviktare, trots det kan han vara på väg över till Bellator. Bader kommer nämligen få ett bud från organisationen inom en till två dagar, ett bud som UFC har möjlighet att matcha. Detta hade Ryan att säga om framtiden och varför han valde att låta sitt UFC-kontrakt löpa ut, via ”The MMA Hour”:
I have a Bellator offer coming either today or tomorrow. We kind of know the particulars. I went out and met with Scott Coker and the Bellator boys and I liked what they had to say, and I liked what they were about. So we’re going through that process. That being said, the UFC has the right to match. It’s kind of in a weird place. I’m super-excited to be in this position. I’m in a great position.
There’s other stuff than just the money in the terms of the contract. Part of it, and why I actually fought it out, was opportunity, what’s the plan, and smart stuff. Obviously sponsors, I took a big hit in sponsors when that whole [Reebok] thing came out. Just little stuff. So when it came time to re-sign, we said, why would we sign? Why wouldn’t we bet on ourselves, play this thing out and see what’s out there. See what I’m worth, see what opportunities are out there.
Bader har vunnit sju av sina åtta senaste matcher inne i oktogonen där de senaste två segrarna tillkommit via TKO/KO, och sist slog han ut Antonio ”Lil Nog” Nogueira under ”UFC: Fight Night 100”.
