Bader: I want a title shot and here’s why

UFC light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader recently appeared on Submission Radio and made the case both for a title shot, and for not trying to trash talk his way into one.

Trash talk puts asses in seats, and Rashad Evans has mastered the art, digging at Bader from all angles before their fight. But Bader won.

“You know, that’s why I don’t trash talk unless I’m provoked,” said Bader. “Cause you go in and call somebody the easiest fight in the division and then go and get beaten up by them, what are you?

It did feel good. I don’t mind the trash talk, and I do feel that on Rashad’s part it was more gamesmanship, rather than all that, ’cause he’s done it in the past.

Bader did not call anyone out after his win over Evans, but that was more by accident than design.

On why Ryan didn’t call anyone out after his win during his post-fight speech

I thought [Joe Rogan] was going to ask me about it,” said Bader. “I thought Joe was going to ask me ‘what’s next?’ And then he kind of just… it didn’t slip my mind, but I was just going to let them… you know, I feel I just earned my shot there and I didn’t have to talk anymore. You know, going back to us talking about not s— talking and all that, and other people who end up eating their words. So I’m not like that unless I’m provoked, really. And so for me, I was just being positive in that moment. Maybe I should have [called somebody out], but it is what it is.

Bader watch division champion Daniel Cormier’s fight with Alexander Gustafsson with appreciation.

I thought it was a great fight,” said Bader accurately. “DC showed heart – they both did – and you know it was back and forth, and [I was] surprised to see Gustafsson land a couple of takedowns on DC, and all that. I think I can go out there – the fighter that went out there and beat Rashad – I think I can go out there and beat DC. I’m going to keep adding tools to my game, and I’m going to be that much better when I do get a shot.

Right now, outside of Jon Jones coming back, I think we have that fight. So I finally get that shot. It’s been a long time in the making. I think we spoke a little bit about going all the way back to when he actually fought Dan Henderson. You know, we were in the running to get that fight with DC and we didn’t. Dan Henderson got that fight. And then we were obviously scheduled to fight in June. That didn’t happen. And he went out there and won the title – which I was trying to get that fight with AJ – and then we had our little dust up and what not, and I figured, now is going to be the time.

“I’m gonna get my shot. I finally get to fight this guy. And that didn’t happen. So you know, it’s long overdue, and I’ve more than earned my shot, having five wins in a row, in a tough division, against tough competition. So I just don’t see who else.

I’m not going to lay my cards out on the table, but there’s definitely a lot of things you learn. You learn from every fight. He did show heart, but he did get tired and he did keep fighting throughout the whole time. It was high-paced fight. You know, I’m a better wrestler than Gustafsson is for sure, and I feel like I can threaten him. I just don’t feel like he’s been threatened too much with the wrestling – I don’t think at all, really. He fought Dan Henderson, but we all know Dan Henderson isn’t going in there and shooting for takedowns and all that. He fought Patrick Cummins, but Cummins took it on a week’s notice. So I just feel I have that aspect, that he has to worry about going out there and me taking him down, and then we get to see what he has off his back.

The potential return of Jon Jones adds to the title shot complexity.

“There’s so many variables,” said Bader. “I don’t know. The variables that I can control were Rashad, you know, going out there and beating Rashad. So I did that, got that done. So where do we go from here? I don’t know. We’re waiting on Jon Jones’ situation. So there’s really not much I can do. But as of my mindset right now, I’m fighting Daniel Cormier, and we’re seeing what’s going to happen with Jones, until Jones comes back. So we’ll see.”

I really didn’t think [Jon Jones] was going to jail or anything like that – high-profile guy, has money, has the ability to get a better lawyer than most people. And so for that, I figured that’s exactly what would happen, you know, a little probation and ‘hey, don’t do that again. You gotta do this and this and this’ and that was it.

What I think [The UFC] should do, is they should wait, probably… I don’t know, 10 months, and give Ryan Bader this title shot, and [Jon Jones] can come back and fight me once I get that. That’s what I think should happen.

Would Bader wait for a title shot if Jones came back and was given the Cormier fight?

I don’t know,” he replied frankly. “Title shots don’t grow on trees, you know? So if you’re offered one, you gotta take that for sure. I don’t want to sit there and be baited into a fight that doesn’t make sense, just to fight. My ultimate goal is to go out there and win that title. It all depends, there’s too many hypotheticals out there. You know, what if, what if? Who knows what happens? We’ll cross that road when Jon Jones’ situation is given out to the public [in regards to] what’s happening. But as of right now, my mindset is, I’m fighting Daniel Cormier until we hear what happens with Jones. So I don’t know. That’s my mindset right now.

Adding to the complexity, Anthony Johnson recently called out Bader.

Some media ran with that,” said Bader. “He just Tweeted something about ‘I never said anything about Bader or whatever, but I will take the fight.’ You know for me, I’m looking at fights that make sense right now. He had his shot, let me get my shot. Gustafsson just had his shot. Who’s in front of me? Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson. I have a five-fight winning streak right now – the longest one in the UFC in their Light heavyweight by far. So for me, these guys all got to get their shot, and you’re going to keep on recycling them? So I think I deserve it enough to go out there and fight Cormier. Why would I just take the fights just to take a fight?”

One fight Bader would consider if the timing was right is a rematch with Glover Teixeira.

That’s one, that’s just a personal one for me,” said Bader. “That would be…it still doesn’t make sense, but with that, that was more of a personal one. That fight doesn’t even make sense for me, but it was one of the ones – he was my last loss, and I want to go out there and avenge that and to even solidify it even more. So that’s more personal.

“That was something I said if Jon Jones comes back, and they said, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are fighting for a title and they’re fighting in June or May or April or what not, then that would be something to consider, because that’s a personal thing that I want to get back. And I’ve always wanted to fight him after that loss. So that was just more, not strategic or anything like that, that’s just more personal. But like I said, my mind right now, is I’m fighting for that title, barring Jones coming back. And we’ll cross that bridge when that happens.