Where would you rank Ryan Bader in the current UFC HW division?

Where would you rank Ryan Bader in the current UFC HW division?


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Agree with everyone else in that he'd probably be top 10. His lack of size and advanced age could prevent him from cracking the top 5. However, he's a LEGIT grappler, has a larger gas tank than any HW in the top 10, and has amazing heart as demonstrated in the Moldavsky fight, so there is potential to crack the top 5.
 
I've been saying it for ages that UFC HW 2022 badly lacks grapplers, I don't think most of them even have a clue how to do a takedown, that so called wrestling in the Ngannou/Gane fight was so amateurish and sloppy, 2 rookies right there. Most of the UFC HW fights are all striking only, its not like the other divisions where there are much more takedowns.

Someone with good subs and ground 'n' pound and good wrestling would do very well in my opinion, as long as they don't get involved with the sloppy slugging that UFC modern HWs are.
 
Top 10 definitely as the division isn't that great and maybe even top 5. It would all depend on matchmaking, but I don't see a clear path a title shot if he's to fight his way up the rankings.
 
Definitely top 10, and I think top 5 is achievable depending on the matchups in question. I don’t think he’d be a permanent fixture in the top 5, but I could see him beating some ppl there. He beats Lewis I think. Gane would be tough but Bader does have a path to victory with his wrestling.
 
1 or 2 years ago I'd say 3-5 but now it's 6 or 7? Divisions just better now. I'm not convinced he's even better than Mold and Kongo in Bellator tbh.
 
Not top 5. Moldavsky should be ashamed for losing against him.
The judges should be ashamed for scoring that fight the way they did.
But yeah, Moldavsky is just not a devastating finisher. Most of his fights go to decision, and his style is such that he can come out on the losing end of close fights.
 
Bader never got much respect in the UFC, and then after he left he has had a very impressive career in my opinion. Top 10 for sure, top 5 maybe, it's hard to say.
 
Definitely top 10, and I think top 5 is achievable depending on the matchups in question. I don’t think he’d be a permanent fixture in the top 5, but I could see him beating some ppl there. He beats Lewis I think. Gane would be tough but Bader does have a path to victory with his wrestling.

Not sure about BB, he keeps getting back up and if he tags Bader then he's in trouble.
 
Not sure about BB, he keeps getting back up and if he tags Bader then he's in trouble.
That’s probably because you think Lewis is a good fighter in general whereas I really do not ;)
Honestly I think the fight goes very similarly to Cormier-Lewis. Bader isn’t exactly Daniel Cormier, but strong enough and good enough wrestler to ground Lewis and control him, beat him up a bit, or maybe even sub him.
 
That’s probably because you think Lewis is a good fighter in general whereas I really do not ;)
Honestly I think the fight goes very similarly to Cormier-Lewis. Bader isn’t exactly Daniel Cormier, but strong enough and good enough wrestler to ground Lewis and control him, beat him up a bit, or maybe even sub him.

I doubt he'd sub him, when was the last time Bader subbed anyone. BB has only been subbed once in his career. Plenty of good wrestlers have failed at holding BB down, DC is just top of the food chain, which Bader isn't imo.
 
Definitely top 10, and I think top 5 is achievable depending on the matchups in question. I don’t think he’d be a permanent fixture in the top 5, but I could see him beating some ppl there. He beats Lewis I think. Gane would be tough but Bader does have a path to victory with his wrestling.

You think he beats BB? I think he gets slept after BB just stands up. Book it!
 
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