Ryan Bader lost his light heavyweight title to Vadim Nemkov in the main event of Bellator 244. After the fight, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones responded to the finish with:
Looks like Russia has a light heavyweight champion, congratulations
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 22, 2020
It’s hard to overlook the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones while discussing the light heavyweight GOAT. Jon Jones has dominated the division for over a decade. He has fought many legends, former champions, future Hall of Famers, and hungry contenders throughout his UFC career.
Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Vitor Belfort, Shogun Rua, and the list goes on. Jon Jones has fought the greatest this era had to offer and he is still unbeaten. Though Jon Jones lays claim to the title of the light heavyweight GOAT UFC’s biggest competition, Bellator has been advertising its light heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader as the greatest light heavyweight of all time.
Jon Jones vs Ryan Bader, light heavyweight GOAT debate
Ryan Bader and Jon Jones have fought each other in UFC before. Jones was able to pick up a victory over Bader without much trouble. However, Bader has made some incredible things since he has made his Bellator debut.
Ryan Bader beat Fedor Emelianenko to be the heavyweight champion. He held both heavyweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously in Bellator. For a long time, Bellator hailed him as the greatest heavyweight and light heavyweight in MMA. However, not anymore.
Bruv, my man Vadim Nemkov DESTROYED Ryan Bader 👀
pic.twitter.com/3Qj7hjOtMy— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 22, 2020
Ryan Bader’s golden run came to an end when he went toe to toe with Vadim Nemkov. The Russian fighter merced Ryan Bader in the main event of Bellator 244 to become the new light heavyweight champion.
The fight was highly competitive until it lasted. However, Vadim Nemkov was able to secure a finish over Bader in the second round. It all started with Nemkov landing a vicious head kick. Ryan Bader was rocked as he went to the survival mode. But, Vadim Nemkov was too good to miss the opportunity as he poured it on the champion.
Though Bader tried to recover after getting rocked with the head kick Nemkov was able to finish the fight soon after. With this win, Bellator has now its first Russian champion. And this has certainly put an end to the discussion of Ryan Bader being the light heavyweight GOAT over Jon Jones.