Ryan Bader Seeking Redemption After Rumble
Ryan Bader Seeking Redemption After Rumble
Ryan Bader is starting to see things differently.A life spent in competition has provided an ongoing education, and the ability to embrace the lessons has b
Ryan Bader is starting to see things differently.
A life spent in competition has provided an ongoing education, and the ability to embrace the lessons has been a key factor in Bader’s success as an athlete. Motivations change with perspective, and while this is nothing new in his word, the past two years have served to bring clarity to where The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner’s energy should be spent.
A five-fight winning streak in the talented light heavyweight ranks led to a strong campaign for a title shot from the former Arizona State University standout. Bader knew what he wanted and went after it vigorously.
He chased down champion Daniel Cormier at every turn, playing the media game in a fashion that wasn’t comfortable for his character, but ultimately necessary on the current landscape of the sport. Bader had spent enough time in the fight game to know few things are given in the UFC, and used his resume to push for the chance to fight for a world title.
“That situation was eye-opening in a lot of ways and I remember the exact moment I realized something felt off,” Bader said. “I was supposed to fight Cormier but that fight got pulled and he fought Johnson for the vacant title. Then he turns around and fights [Alexander[ Gustafsson who gets the fight coming off a knockout loss. That’s when I knew I had to stop thinking about it.
“Getting a title shot isn’t based off merit or something you earn your way toward like a bracket system in college wrestling. I had to let it all go because I wasn’t having fun out there. I was locked in tournament mode where getting to the next step is the most important. I’m at my best when I’m soaking it all up and having fun. That’s what I needed to get back to."
Bader believed he’d earned the right to fight for the title, but it was an opportunity that never materialized. Instead it would be Alexander Gustafsson who faced “D.C.” at UFC 192, and the Power MMA leader would square off with Anthony Johnson for his troubles three months later in New Jersey.
Despite all the dangers “Rumble” presented, Bader saw Johnson as the one thing standing between him and the shot at championship gold he wanted so badly.
Those ambitions drove him toward the fight, but those same motivations--along with his title hopes--would be in shambles a short time after the opening bell sounded. A tactical error paired with Johnson’s power yielded disastrous results, but it wasn’t the setback that left Bader in shambles in the aftermath.
It was his performance--or lack thereof--that ate away at him in the weeks that followed UFC on Fox 18.
“Here’s the thing: I can take a loss,” Bader said. “I’ve been in this sport long enough and experienced enough ups and downs to know what I can handle. But when you lose a fight where you didn’t even give yourself a chance, that’s a hard thing to deal with. We had a game plan, but I saw something different and it didn’t work out. It’s one of those things that you kick yourself for.
“I can go out there and lose a fight and in a way be fine with it because I know I gave my best. That wasn’t the case against Johnson. I also know it’s not something you can dwell on. I have to bounce back, and the way I’ve always done that is to learn from my mistakes and work my ass off to repair the holes in my game. I’ve always come back stronger off a loss and I feel like I have something to prove.”
The specific area Bader feels the foundation for a successful comeback can be laid is in the mental arena. He has experienced highs and lows inside the Octagon as he’s made his climb up the 205-pound ranks, and used his competitive tenacity to fuel him in the hardest of times.
Bader is undoubtedly blessed with natural physical gifts as an athlete, but credits his mental durability for providing the moxie required to fire back after a misstep.
“Even off a loss like what happened against Johnson my mindset gets stronger,” Bader said. “The fight prior I fought Rashad [Evans] and I felt good in there. I felt fast and was in the zone where everything slows down and I could see it all coming at me. I was able to take positive things from that fight.
“This last loss--especially the way it happened--I realized I don’t ever want to feel that way again. I refuse to, and the only way to make sure it won’t happen again is to put in the work.”
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While Bader can’t escape the losses on his record, the rate he’s achieved success inside the Octagon is impressive enough to tip the balance back in favor. The 32-year-old Nevada native has suffered just five setbacks in 19 showings under the UFC banner--each of which have come against former champions or title challengers.
In the process of providing a hard knock education, those fights also showed Bader how close he is to reaching the top of his division. Those are the measures a lifelong competitor will put under his belt and press forward, and that’s precisely the case as Bader heads toward his next challenge.
The divisional staple will face Swedish powerhouse Ilir Latifi on a UFC Fight Night card in Hamburg, Germany on Sept. 3. “The Sledgehammer” has lived up to his nickname every step of the way, and Bader is looking forward to getting back into the cage and slinging some heavy leather on the global stage.
And it’s the latter--the world tour fighting in the UFC has provided--that helps to remind Bader how fortunate he is to be doing what he loves.
“This is going to be a great matchup between two strong wrestlers,” Bader said. “We are going to go out there and try to take each other out. He’s on a three-fight winning streak and wants to beat someone ranked in the top 10. I’m looking for redemption and out to prove I do belong in the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division.
“Another appealing aspect of this fight is it takes place in Germany. I love to travel, but this is going to feel old school to me, like I’m back in college on the dual circuit where you have your head down, are making weight and getting it done. I’ve always loved that feeling.
“I’m going out there to have fun,” he added. “The pressure is off and I don’t have that title shot sitting above me anymore. I can go out there and open up my game, and that’s when I fight my best.”
A life spent in competition has provided an ongoing education, and the ability to embrace the lessons has been a key factor in Bader’s success as an athlete. Motivations change with perspective, and while this is nothing new in his word, the past two years have served to bring clarity to where The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner’s energy should be spent.
A five-fight winning streak in the talented light heavyweight ranks led to a strong campaign for a title shot from the former Arizona State University standout. Bader knew what he wanted and went after it vigorously.
He chased down champion Daniel Cormier at every turn, playing the media game in a fashion that wasn’t comfortable for his character, but ultimately necessary on the current landscape of the sport. Bader had spent enough time in the fight game to know few things are given in the UFC, and used his resume to push for the chance to fight for a world title.
“That situation was eye-opening in a lot of ways and I remember the exact moment I realized something felt off,” Bader said. “I was supposed to fight Cormier but that fight got pulled and he fought Johnson for the vacant title. Then he turns around and fights [Alexander[ Gustafsson who gets the fight coming off a knockout loss. That’s when I knew I had to stop thinking about it.
“Getting a title shot isn’t based off merit or something you earn your way toward like a bracket system in college wrestling. I had to let it all go because I wasn’t having fun out there. I was locked in tournament mode where getting to the next step is the most important. I’m at my best when I’m soaking it all up and having fun. That’s what I needed to get back to."
Bader believed he’d earned the right to fight for the title, but it was an opportunity that never materialized. Instead it would be Alexander Gustafsson who faced “D.C.” at UFC 192, and the Power MMA leader would square off with Anthony Johnson for his troubles three months later in New Jersey.
Despite all the dangers “Rumble” presented, Bader saw Johnson as the one thing standing between him and the shot at championship gold he wanted so badly.
Those ambitions drove him toward the fight, but those same motivations--along with his title hopes--would be in shambles a short time after the opening bell sounded. A tactical error paired with Johnson’s power yielded disastrous results, but it wasn’t the setback that left Bader in shambles in the aftermath.
It was his performance--or lack thereof--that ate away at him in the weeks that followed UFC on Fox 18.
“Here’s the thing: I can take a loss,” Bader said. “I’ve been in this sport long enough and experienced enough ups and downs to know what I can handle. But when you lose a fight where you didn’t even give yourself a chance, that’s a hard thing to deal with. We had a game plan, but I saw something different and it didn’t work out. It’s one of those things that you kick yourself for.
“I can go out there and lose a fight and in a way be fine with it because I know I gave my best. That wasn’t the case against Johnson. I also know it’s not something you can dwell on. I have to bounce back, and the way I’ve always done that is to learn from my mistakes and work my ass off to repair the holes in my game. I’ve always come back stronger off a loss and I feel like I have something to prove.”
The specific area Bader feels the foundation for a successful comeback can be laid is in the mental arena. He has experienced highs and lows inside the Octagon as he’s made his climb up the 205-pound ranks, and used his competitive tenacity to fuel him in the hardest of times.
Bader is undoubtedly blessed with natural physical gifts as an athlete, but credits his mental durability for providing the moxie required to fire back after a misstep.
“Even off a loss like what happened against Johnson my mindset gets stronger,” Bader said. “The fight prior I fought Rashad [Evans] and I felt good in there. I felt fast and was in the zone where everything slows down and I could see it all coming at me. I was able to take positive things from that fight.
“This last loss--especially the way it happened--I realized I don’t ever want to feel that way again. I refuse to, and the only way to make sure it won’t happen again is to put in the work.”
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While Bader can’t escape the losses on his record, the rate he’s achieved success inside the Octagon is impressive enough to tip the balance back in favor. The 32-year-old Nevada native has suffered just five setbacks in 19 showings under the UFC banner--each of which have come against former champions or title challengers.
In the process of providing a hard knock education, those fights also showed Bader how close he is to reaching the top of his division. Those are the measures a lifelong competitor will put under his belt and press forward, and that’s precisely the case as Bader heads toward his next challenge.
The divisional staple will face Swedish powerhouse Ilir Latifi on a UFC Fight Night card in Hamburg, Germany on Sept. 3. “The Sledgehammer” has lived up to his nickname every step of the way, and Bader is looking forward to getting back into the cage and slinging some heavy leather on the global stage.
And it’s the latter--the world tour fighting in the UFC has provided--that helps to remind Bader how fortunate he is to be doing what he loves.
“This is going to be a great matchup between two strong wrestlers,” Bader said. “We are going to go out there and try to take each other out. He’s on a three-fight winning streak and wants to beat someone ranked in the top 10. I’m looking for redemption and out to prove I do belong in the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division.
“Another appealing aspect of this fight is it takes place in Germany. I love to travel, but this is going to feel old school to me, like I’m back in college on the dual circuit where you have your head down, are making weight and getting it done. I’ve always loved that feeling.
“I’m going out there to have fun,” he added. “The pressure is off and I don’t have that title shot sitting above me anymore. I can go out there and open up my game, and that’s when I fight my best.”