Bader Halts Champ-Champ-Champ Plans

By Fight Sports Nov 13, 2019

After his controversial first defense of the Bellator heavyweight title, Bellator’s champion at both 205-pounds and heavyweight looked to add Rizin’s heavyweight crown to his trophy case.

With Bellator and Rizin having a working relationship that has seen Kyoji Horiguchi add the Bellator featherweight title to his Rizin crown, Bader seemed the next competitor to unite the belts.

Yet, Bader’s plans have changed heading into the new year, as he will look to defend one of his titles instead of adding a new one.

“We tried hard but looks like fighting for the Rizin belt isn’t going to happen next,” Bader wrote on Twitter. “Just couldn’t come to terms where it made sense. I’m looking to return to the Bellator MMA cage sometime in February. Light heavyweight.”

We tried hard but looks like fighting for the Rizin belt isn’t going to happen next. Just couldn’t come to terms where it made sense. I’m looking to return to the @bellatormma cage sometime in February. LHW 👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/RzteeA69CS

— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) November 13, 2019

While there is no current Rizin champion, it seems the two organizations were unable to a deal that may have seen Rizin’s newly minted light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka battle Bader, possibly on New Year’s Eve.

If Bader does sign for a February defense of his 205-pound title, it will mark his first defense since Bellator 186 against Linton Vassel.