Ryan Bader is under-rated. [Updated] (Sherarticle)

[Inverse]

I personally think that Ryan Bader does not get the respect he deserves from a lot of fans. Although a lot of the more hardcore people here and elsewhere have their own opinions on him, I do feel as if he his under-rated in a sense and that he does, infact, stands more of a chance against Anthony Johnson than the general populace would like to think.

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Before I get in to this more, I would like to point out that I do think Anthony Johnson is a highly skilled athlete and he does infact bring a very powerful MMA game to the table. The man is nothing short of a highly skilled power house and his ability to put people away is really something special.

I also understand that Ryan he has a two loses via KO and two via sub - one from past prime Ortiz - I do believe though, that Bader would come out on top in a rematch but anyone can get caught for on any given day against a professional hard-hitting, former-champion fighter, respect to Mr Ortiz though.​

Bader hold's some really good wins now and in his recent performances have shown he has the ability to compete against the very best in the world.

Ryan Bader vs Rampage Jackson @ UFC 144
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When Bader lost to Glover, Glover was on a 19 fight win-streak and Bader honestly almost put him out more than once. Bader managed to land many hard shots on Teixeira and was actually winning the fight before he got sloppy going in for the finish. Glover landed a fantastic 1-2 combo and put Bader down, and after land follow up blows Herb Dean was forced to stop the fight.

Bader used to have a tendency to over-commit a little too much in his fights. I'm in the minority and I expect the obvious comments to come in about this but I'd lay money on Bader in a rematch with Glover, Bader is fighting much smarter and more calculated these days. He knows his strengths and weaknesses well now.

Ryan Bader vs Glover Teixeira @ UFC Fight Night​

He also recently beat the #6 LHW and KO artist, Ovince St. Preux, via a dominant Unanimous Decision.

Ryan Bader vs Ovince Saint Preux @ UFC Fight Night
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It wasn't the most exciting fight but it was a dominant win over a dangerous guy and he followed that up with a victory over the notoriously elusive and powerful wrestler, Phil Davis. A fighter that was forced to leave the UFC due to politics rather than his ability to compete at a high level in MMA.


And of course he topped off his 5 fight win-streak with a win over former champion Rashad Evans in a fight many counted him out of. Bader walked through Rashad in a fashion that most people didn't think he was capable of. Suga has proven to be a great talent Bader ended his streak beating 3 top 10 guys consecutively.

Ryan Bader vs Rashad Evans @ UFC 192​

Since the loss to Glover - Bader has beaten all of his opponents with fair ease and imposed his game plans very successfully. He hasn't really been in any adverse situations due to him fighting well and using his strengths as his strengths. He is fighting efficiently and in my opinion has put together a high level fighting style that has allowed him to win his last 5 bouts. Bader has great cardio, great power and great wrestling. His boxing and kicking game have come forward leaps and bounds in my opinion and I believe he is a real threat to Rumble Johnson, this fight is no gimmie match-up for Rumble.

May the best man win but I think it will be a hard fought fight.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Osp very very overrated, phil davis meh ok, evans past his prime. Hes about to have his 1st true test. I believe he will fail, then flail, then bail.

 

[Hulk Brogan]

phil davis wasnt cut he chose not to re-sign with the ufc when he contract was up

 

[runnpray]

He fights smart, he wins. He goes in guns blazing for a finish, he gets KTFO.

 

[elbowsandwiches]

ever since he lost to tito (a fluke imo) hes never come back from that as far as the mma community goes.

if you take that tito loss away, hes only lost to machida and jones, which are respectable losses

 

[Brainiac Banks]

Very Underrated

 

[Inverse]

phil davis wasnt cut he chose not to re-sign with the ufc when he contract was up

Ahh yeah. Didn't bother googling it, cheers for the heads up - doesn't change the fact he's a top 10 LHW though.

 

[essie]

Ehh, he crumbles to elite competition. The gifs you posted of the Glover fight kind of make the case against him. Look at the first one where he sorta stumbles Glover and then throws a wild, ugly uppercut. In the second Glover stumbles again and he can't even lay a finger on him. His striking is technically pretty rough. Fine wrestler but he doesn't really have an answer for the best guys in the world.

 

[13Seconds]

That Tito loss was a destroyer. I just can't get over it.

 

[Guile]

Anyone who thinks Bader sucks or is overrated are idiots and likely new to the sport. The guy has a great resume and including TUF he is 16-4 in UFC with 3 of those losses being to former champs. With that said, Rumble by TKO.

 

[Inverse]

Ehh, he crumbles to elite competition. The gifs you posted of the Glover fight kind of make the case against him. Look at the first one where he sorta stumbles Glover and then throws a wild, ugly uppercut. In the second Glover stumbles again and he can't even lay a finger on him. His striking is technically pretty rough. Fine wrestler but he doesn't really have an answer for the best guys in the world.

His boxing has come along a lot since that fight. He got KO'd by Glover but he very nearly finished him, a man that looked completely unstoppable before, Bader was a massive, massive underdog - he would beat Glover in a rematch imo.

I believe he does have an answer for the best guys in the world hence his 3 top 10 wins in a row.

 

[PrydeShlls]

Every fighter Bader has beat was either washed up, overmatched, or overrated imho. Rumble by head clean off mate!

 

[Inverse]

That Tito loss was a destroyer. I just can't get over it.

ever since he lost to tito (a fluke imo) hes never come back from that as far as the mma community goes.

if you take that tito loss away, hes only lost to machida and jones, which are respectable losses

Yep. It was insane. I was happy for Tito though, was cool seeing his victory celebration one last time I thought he was going to get wrecked.

 

[M Raid K]

Ehh, he crumbles to elite competition. The gifs you posted of the Glover fight kind of make the case against him. Look at the first one where he sorta stumbles Glover and then throws a wild, ugly uppercut. In the second Glover stumbles again and he can't even lay a finger on him. His striking is technically pretty rough. Fine wrestler but he doesn't really have an answer for the best guys in the world.

He improved since that loss.

 

[Conor McGuzman]

ever since he lost to tito (a fluke imo) hes never come back from that as far as the mma community goes.

if you take that tito loss away, hes only lost to machida and jones, which are respectable losses

he lost to Glover

 

[essie]

His boxing has come along a lot since that fight. He got KO'd by Glover but he very nearly finished him, a man that looked completely unstoppable before, Bader was a massive, massive underdog - he would beat Glover in a rematch imo.

I believe he does have an answer for the best guys in the world hence his 3 top 10 wins in a row.

I thought he lost the Phil Davis fight and OSP/Rashad aren't elite guys right now imo. I guess top 10 is best in the world but I meant more like guys who deserve that title shot or are in the title picture (gus, dc, jones, glover, rumble) Although I will say with Rumble's gas tank I am leaning towards him getting out worked by Bader.

 

[Inverse]

Every fighter Bader has beat was either washed up, overmatched, or overrated imho. Rumble by head clean off mate!

Washed up, over-matched or over-rated = After Bader beats them and not before.

 

[MitMcl]

No I don't think so.

 

[Inverse]

I thought he lost the Phil Davis fight and OSP/Rashad aren't elite guys right now imo. I guess top 10 is best in the world but I meant more like guys who deserve that title shot or are in the title picture (gus, dc, jones, glover, rumble. Although I will say with Rumble's gas tank I am leaning towards him getting out worked by Bader.

They are elite guys. Rashad and OSP are elite - before the fight they were considered elite. They are elite but they are not considered elite now by many because Bader beat them. Bader is someone who is typically looked on by MMA fans as not being a top-tier guy and when he beats people they are instantly considered over-rated/ washed-up which I think is bullshit. Both those guys are in a handful of the very best in the world.

 

[Harlekin]

1 Jones
2 DC
3 Johnson
4 Bader

4th place in the UFC definately deserves respect. 5 fight winning streak. Would beat Texeira in a rematch