When Ryan Bader steps into the Octagon Saturday night at UFC 139 he will most likely be fighting for his job. Bader, once one of the top prospects in the UFC light heavyweight division, has now lost two fights in a row and with another loss, may be out of the UFC.
Bader grew up in Reno, Nevada, and attended college at Arizona State. While at ASU, Bader was a three time PAC-10 champion wrestler. Bader was also a two time All-American, placing 4th in the country in 2004 and 6th in 2006. While at ASU, Bader wrestled alongside UFC fighters C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez.
After leaving ASU, Bader started training at Arizona Combat Sports and transitioned to the world of MMA. He started off winning his first 12 professional fights, including five in the UFC. Bader's UFC career began when he appeared on season 8 of 'The Ultimate Fighter'. Bader won the UFC reality show with three victories, he then climbed up the UFC light heavyweight division with victories over the likes of MMA legends Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Keith Jardine.
However, in 2011 Bader hit a brick wall in his career. Bader has fought twice this year, both times he came out of the Octagon with a loss. In February he was defeated by current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, this past July Bader was defeated by former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Both losses were by submission.
Bader faces veteren Jason Brilz Saturday night. Brilz is 18-4-1 in his professional career, he has lost his last two fights and has lost three of his last four overall. The fight airs on Spike TV at 5 p.m. as part of the preliminary card. The winner will regain his standing in the light heavyweight division, the loser of this fight could very well receieve a pink slip from UFC President Dana White.