Bellator Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion Ryan Bader considers UFC Light Heavyweight champion as one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever but has a chip on his shoulder. The 36-year-old feels he knows how to hand Jones a beating and wants a champion vs. champion clash.
Both Bader and Jones faced off back in 2011 at UFC 126 with Bones winning via submission in the second round. It snapped the 12-fight winnings streak of Bader, suffering his first loss in the Octagon. From there, the American struggled a bit and lost to other great fighters like Tito Ortiz and Anthony Johnson. But it appears he has picked up in his last eight fights and now he wants a shot at the same guy who dealt him his first loss.
"That's one fight I'd love to get back," Bader said to TMZ Sports. "It was 2011 when that happened. I've grown and changed so much since then. Physically, mentally. We'd love to be able to do some cross-promotion deal."
However, booking a fight between Bader and Jones will not be easy. For one, it would need collaboration between the UFC and Bellator. The 36-year-old is aching for revenge, whether it be an exhibition fight or something that would unify the light heavyweight titles. For now, only UFC president Dana White may have a say on that, not to mention Jones.
For now, Jones seems to be inclined to give Dominick Reyes a rematch. It was back in February when the two MMA fighters got it on at UFC 247. Jones won the match via unanimous decision but critics felt otherwise. Some felt Reyes should have won and the only way to settle the issue is to have a rematch.
“He didn’t really expect that from me. And he thanked me for making him a better martial artist. He said, ‘our rematch is gonna be epic,’” Reyes said when he appeared on Ariel Herwani's MMA show.
And it appears White is down with it, believing the 30-year-old is deserving of one more match with Bones.
“I think he (deserves a rematch). You’d be crazy not to think he deserves a rematch,” White said to TMZ Sports.
For now, it remains to be seen if this will be done. Jones is taking the coronavirus issue seriously and dubbed the crisis as something "bigger than sports," BJ Penn reported. With most remaining sporting events being held in front of empty seats, big fight/s like this may have to wait until the coast is clear and safe for all.
