Ryan DuWayne Bader is an accomplished American mixed martial artist and the current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion. With a successful background in amateur wrestling, including two state championships and three Pac-10 Conference Championships, Bader entered the MMA scene and quickly made a name for himself. He achieved notable success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, winning The Ultimate Fighter 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament and earning bonus awards for his impressive performances. Bader’s record in the Light Heavyweight division stands at 15-5 with UFC. In 2017, he signed with Bellator MMA and went on to defeat Phil Davis to claim the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship. With an overall MMA record of 23 wins out of 28, Bader is highly regarded in the Light Heavyweight division, ranking #3 in the world according to Sherdog.
Quick Facts
- Nick Name: Darth, Master
- Also Known As: Ryan DuWayne Bader
- Age: 40 Years, 40 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Daisy (m Oct. 2010)
- Mixed Martial Artists
- American Men
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm), 6’2″ Males
- Notable Alumni: Arizona State University
- U.S. State: Nevada
- City: Reno, Nevada
- More Facts
- Education: Arizona State University
Childhood & Early Life
Ryan DuWayne Bader was born on June 7, 1983, in Reno, Nevada, US in a middle-class family of Native Americans. He studied at the Robert McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada. While in school, he participated in wrestling and emerged as the winner of two state championships. He excelled in the sport as an amateur wrestler and earned the fourth rank in wrestling nationwide. After completing high school, he enrolled at Arizona State University. During his university days, he won the Pac-10 Championship title three times in 2003, 2004, and 2006. As a sophomore, he earned fourth place in 2004, and as a senior, he was placed seventh in 2006.
Career
Ryan Bader joined the mixed martial arts training organization Arizona Combat Sports in early 2007. He made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as one of the contestants of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir,” a reality TV series and MMA contest produced by UFC and Fox Sports 1. He was selected by Coach Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and won three fights to reach The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale, where he faced Vinicius Magalhães. He won the finale fight and secured the UFC contract.
Bader went on to have several wins and losses in his UFC career. He faced notable opponents such as Jon Jones, Tito Ortiz, and Rashad Evans. He also won the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship after signing with Bellator MMA in 2017.
Personal Life
Ryan Bader is married to Daisy since October 30, 2010, and they have three children. The family currently resides in Chandler, Arizona.