Rumble Johnson vs. Ryan Bader headlines UFC on FOX in Newark

[Wild]

The first UFC on FOX event of 2016 will be headlined by a consequential light heavyweight showdown.

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson will meet Ryan Bader in the main event of the Jan. 30 card at Newark's Prudential Center. The news was broken on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight.

LINK: Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson vs. Ryan Bader headlines UFC on FOX in Newark - MMA Fighting

 

[Joemacka]

Rumble just gotta touch that chin once.

 

[Pitbull9]

Well



Good night Bader.

 

[Wild]

Bader has been on a tear, but I think it ends here. Rumble is just so aggressive. If Bader can't get 3 takedowns and keep the fight on the ground, I dont think this ends well for him.

 

[member 3289]

With Jones back, Bader knew he wasn't seeing a title shot any time soon.

He wanted this fight as badly as I want herpes, but he had no choice. It's the only thing that makes sense.

 

[sparkuri]

RIP Bader

 

[member 603]

Bader has been on a tear, but I think it ends here. Rumble is just so aggressive. If Bader can't get 3 takedowns and keep the fight on the ground, I dont think this ends well for him.

Here's the thing with Rumble though, he's like a turtle, he's never really showed that he's good at getting up.... If Bader does get him on the ground, that might be all she wrote for Rumble.

 

[Wild]

Here's the thing with Rumble though, he's like a turtle, he's never really showed that he's good at getting up.... If Bader does get him on the ground, that might be all she wrote for Rumble.

Agreed, but I dont think Bader can finish Rumble there. Maybe I'm proven wrong, but I dont see it. So I think this fight is either a 3 round UD for Bader, by grinding on the ground. Or a vicious KO by Rumble. No in between. So the question becomes, do I think Bader can get 3 takedowns without getting caught with a bomb? I personally dont think so.

 

[member 603]

Agreed, but I dont think Bader can finish Rumble there. Maybe I'm proven wrong, but I dont see it. So I think this fight is either a 3 round UD for Bader, by grinding on the ground. Or a vicious KO by Rumble. No in between. So the question becomes, do I think Bader can get 3 takedowns without getting caught with a bomb? I personally dont think so.

I too agree on the potential fight outcomes for this.... In regards to the 3 takedowns for Bader, I feel he can get them because Rumble hadn't ever shown much of a gas tank in his career (where as Bader has had grinding wins), I can see a close first round, then Bader grinding out two rounds on a gassed Rumble.

 

[Geo]

Bader's win streak will come to an end that night!

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Rumble has one round to win this fight.

 

[Ministry of Silly Walks]

rumble inside of 2min.

 

[Robbie Hart]

It's either 1 round to Johnson or I fast forward through bader laying on top of Johnson for 3 rounds (luxury of time difference and ability to record).......I just don't get bader, he's good but he will never be a title contender, he is a gatekeeper to the title contenders.

 

[1031]

Anthony Johnson has the physical and mental advantage in almost every respect. His future in mma seems to have more potential unless Bader can drastically improve his submission game, it's difficult to see him being a future contender.

 

[Robbie Hart]

rumble inside of 2min.

Or, what I now realise is a 5 round fight, 23 additional minutes of bader laying on him and landing one significant strike in the process.

 

[TalkingLeaf]

A three round fight I would pick Anthony. But five rounds gives Bader enough time to tire him out and lay on him for three rounds. Trick is he has to survive the first few rounds.

If Tito can punch you silly, I imagine getting through two rounds with Anthony Johnson will be very challenging. But if he can I think victory is his.

Rumble by early TKO, or Bader by decision.

 

[PassnSmash]

Rumble will knock him out very quickly imo.

 

[Megatron Robinson]

RIP Bader

This.

 

[dacofty]

Rumble KOs Bader

 

[Hwoarang]

Im honestly shocked Bader took this fight.

 

[Robbie Hart]

Im honestly shocked Bader took this fight.

I don't think he will get knocked out though I don't think he is relevant in the division. My gut says Johnson gets tired and it goes 5 rounds

 

[CaffeineBomb]

Wow, the UFC really doesn't want to give Bader that title shot does it? He's basically LHW Jon Fitch now.

Like everyone else, I lean towards Rumble in this fight. Though Bader has improved his defense & fight IQ a lot in his last two fights so I can actually see him winning this, but it's hard to see him be as dominant as Cormier was with wrestling against Johnson.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Terrible news for Bader. He was hoping for that immediate title shot, now he has to face Rumble.

I don't think it's the slam dunk for Rumble that everyone else seems to. Rumble has had serious cardio issues in the past, and if Bader can avoid the haymakers and try to grind him down, maybe he can take advantage in the later rounds.

 

[Robbie Hart]

Wow, the UFC really doesn't want to give Bader that title shot does it? He's basically LHW Jon Fitch now.

Like everyone else, I lean towards Rumble in this fight. Though Bader has improved his defense & fight IQ a lot in his last two fights so I can actually see him winning this, but it's hard to see him be as dominant as Cormier was with wrestling against Johnson.

Because he is a gatekeeper to the contenders......put him against gus and gustopher will spin him around in circles and beat the snot out of him......you don't get a title shot because you are a nice guy and are good.

 

[CaffeineBomb]

Is he? Just fairly easily outfought a former champion after all and beat Phil Davis directly before that.

I've lost a bit of faith in Gus after the Cormier fight personally. Don't think he's really improved in the last couple of years and was making some odd in-round decisions like constantly looking back at his corner. He looked at his best against Jones and the UFC desperately wants to make that rematch.

Gatekeeper or not Bader's won 5 fights in a row and that's far more than anyone else in the division bar Jones. Unlike Johnson he's not been getting obviously favourable matchups like Manuwa either. Though decision after decision is pretty damn boring. Hell, even if he does get slaughtered in a title-shot it just adds shine to the champ (almost definitely Jones) with a clear win. Sure, it may not do huge PPV numbers but Rousey - Correria showed fairly well that a good squash match can sell well if it's hyped the right way.

Bader on has definitely improved his boxing and isn't making as many dumb decisions like the one that got him ko-ed by Machida (as far as I remember he basically didn't like getting boo-ed and tried to bum rush a lethal counterstriker) or submitted by Ortiz. He also appears to be carrying less muscle into the cage, so may be having easier weight cuts and be better hydrated which could explain why he's not been as chinny as in previous fights.

Don't think he beats Cormier or Jones, but I think with a good gameplan and movement he can possibly get past Johnson.