UFC 192 features a main event contest between Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson for the UFC light heavyweight title. With Jon Jones still suspended and on probation for the next 18 months, these are the best two fighters that the UFC could present to the public to fight for the championship. At least that’s what the promotional packages will tell you. But there is a man sitting on the outside who has earned a shot at the title, and that is Ryan Bader.
Even though Bader is highly-ranked in the division, he’s often overlooked as a true contender to the title. He’s slated to face Rashad Evans this weekend, but one wonders whether he will receive a shot at the champion if he pulls out the victory. It’s clear that he is being “skipped” in title talks.
Since winning season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, Bader has been the model of consistency. His record of 12-4 in the Octagon is one of the best of the fighters that have come from the reality series. He continues to falter against some of the biggest names in the sport, which has hampered him from getting that elusive title shot, but this time around he looks to be in the right position at the right time to get his chance in the spotlight.
Bader will bring a four-fight win streak into this weekend’s bout. During this run he’s defeated a former Strikeforce champion in Rafael Cavalcante and top 10 fighters Ovince St. Preux and Phil Davis. Unfortunately, the UFC decided to go with Gustafsson for Cormier’s first title defense which, in Bader’s opinion, was an egregious oversight. So much so that he took to confronting the current champion during a press conference.
The animosity between the two men stems from the fact that Bader was slated to face Cormier before Jones was stripped of the title, and Cormier stepped in to face Anthony Johnson at UFC. 185. Since Cormier was put in the position to win the title, Bader’s gripe is that he was left without a fight and that Gustafsson, whose recent record is very weak in comparison to his, was pushed ahead of him in the title picture. Cormier responded to the claim by respectfully taking jabs at the former Arizona collegiate wrestler:
“The weirdest thing about this whole situation with Ryan Bader is through this situation and the way that he’s carried himself I’ve actually gained a level of respect, because it seems as though he’s finally understanding the game,” Cormier said via Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog. “Make yourself relevant and people will put you in title fights and fights that really matter.”
Fast forward to this Saturday’s bout. Bader is in a position to win the biggest fight of his career. In Evans he’s facing an opponent that can match his wrestling while mixing in more technical striking. Evans’ extended layoff makes many question how well he will look in his return, and is perhaps the biggest advantage in Bader’s favor. This is a very winnable fight for Bader, and one that he really needs to cement his claim that he is the true top contender for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
In the words of the UFC slogan from earlier in the year, “The Time Is Now.” With the UFC announcing an event at Madison Square Garden in April 2016, rumors are that this could be the date Jones returns to the Octagon. If Bader can pull off the win this weekend, he can push for a title shot against Cormier or Gustafsson before that date to keep the champion active. If he continues to be outspoken in the media, he will be on the right track towards getting that title shot. But regardless of whether it works, the fact that he was overlooked is a good source of motivation as he prepares to face the former champion Evans on Saturday night. If he has a huge chip on his shoulder, it will be interesting to see what type of Ryan Bader steps into the Octagon.
UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson takes place on October 3, 2015 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
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