Ryan Bader, a highly accomplished former two-division champion in Bellator and a competitor in both the UFC and PFL, has officially signed with the Japanese mixed martial arts promotion RIZIN.
The veteran fighter made the announcement himself by appearing in the ring during RIZIN’s Otoko Matsuri event held Sunday at the Tokyo Dome, confirming his new venture with the organization.
Bader is scheduled to make his promotional debut at RIZIN`s major annual event on New Year`s Eve, December 31st. He is slated to compete against the winner of RIZIN`s ongoing heavyweight grand prix tournament. This tournament commenced at the same Sunday event, where fighters such as fellow former Bellator athlete Jose Augusto, Poland’s Marek Samociuk, and Japan’s Mikio Ueda advanced to the semifinal round. A fourth quarterfinal matchup was cancelled.
The 41-year-old Bader has not competed since February 2024, marking over a year of inactivity. His last fight took place at the PFL vs. Bellator crossover show, where he suffered a quick TKO loss in just 21 seconds to Renan Ferreira. That defeat ended a three-fight winning streak for Bader, nicknamed “Darth.”
Prior to joining RIZIN, Bader had a distinguished tenure in Bellator after moving from the UFC in 2017. During his time with Bellator, he captured titles in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions and secured significant victories over notable opponents, including Fedor Emelianenko, Lyoto Machida, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, and Phil Davis, among others. In the UFC, he was ranked among the top 10 light heavyweights and compiled a professional record of 15 wins and 5 losses before his departure.
Speaking at the event, Bader expressed his eagerness to return to action, stating, “I want to fight. One hundred percent, and I will be your champion by January.”
Beyond his fighting career, Bader has also explored opportunities in acting recently. He portrays UFC legend Mark Coleman in director Benny Safdie`s upcoming film, The Smashing Machine, which stars Dwayne Johnson as former UFC and Pride standout Mark Kerr and is set to premiere on October 3rd.
