Bader and team disheartened after being passed by for title fight
Ryan Bader’s manager David Martin: “It’s a little disheartening, but it’s also educational in understanding that winning isn’t necessarily everything in MMA.”
Ryan Bader was scheduled to fight Daniel Cormier in the main event of the UFC’s June 6th event. Fate intervened and Cormier was called up to fight for the UFC lightheavyweight title, a fight versus Anthony Johnson which he won.
Not hours after Cormier won the title, Bader was lobbying for a title shot against Cormier, but unfortunately the UFC made the decision to go with Alexander Gustafsson, a move that Bader was not too happy with:
“It’s a little disheartening, but it’s also educational in understanding that winning isn’t necessarily everything in MMA,” Ryan Bader’s manager David Martin told FOX Sports on Thursday. “Entertainment clearly is the most important factor and it’s something I’m going to have to discuss with a number of my fighters who come from wrestling backgrounds where winning is the only thing that matters.”
No matter what the records say, Bader still got passed over in favor of Gustafsson who will face Cormier later this year with the title on the line.
“I’m not fighting for the title next, that’s all I know,” Bader said while declining any further comment.