Ryan Bader felt the time was right for a change.
After over a year since his last PFL fight, largely due to his role in the upcoming Mark Kerr biopic, The Smashing Machine, the Bellator heavyweight champion wasn`t certain about his next competition schedule. This uncertainty led to discussions with PFL, resulting in a friendly parting of ways. Despite having one fight left on his contract, Bader emphasizes that there`s no animosity between him and PFL following their separation, a rare occurrence in fighter-organization splits.
“Leaving PFL was more my initiative,” Bader explained to MMA Fighting regarding his decision. “Being the Bellator heavyweight champion in a situation where they`re absorbing Bellator creates some ambiguity about titles and tournaments.”
“For me, the timeline for fighting again felt unclear. We had productive talks with PFL and decided to pursue different paths. We are content with the outcome. They treated us well, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bellator and PFL. I`ll remember that period fondly.”
Bader`s sole PFL appearance resulted in a loss to Renan Ferreira in February 2024, a fight that determined who would face Francis Ngannou in his PFL debut.
Shortly after that fight, Bader received an unexpected opportunity to join the cast of The Smashing Machine, alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Filming the movie occupied Bader for several months, and he appreciated PFL’s understanding and flexibility, allowing him to pursue this opportunity while still under contract.
“PFL was very supportive regarding the movie, telling me to go ahead and they would be there after,” Bader said. “I was pleased we reached an agreement subsequently that satisfied me. It was just one of those situations. I`ll always speak positively about both organizations. Everything is good.”
While multiple factors contributed to Bader`s decision to leave PFL, his current career stage was a significant driver.
At 41, Bader recognizes his remaining fight time is limited, and he wasn`t keen on participating in another PFL tournament. Furthermore, potential matchups outside of tournaments felt like possible rematches, given his history with many top heavyweights from Bellator.
“I felt I had less to prove,” Bader stated. “I cherished my Bellator run, but even then, we were revisiting opponents. I sensed a similar direction. The tournaments are complex because my purse is substantial, making it less appealing to pay that multiple times in a year, let alone three. So, tournaments weren`t ideal. I considered getting in three quick fights and retiring, but then the movie opportunity arose, occupying the entire summer and leading to a prolonged period without fighting.”
“For me, the timing was perfect. It introduced a different kind of uncertainty, but one where I have more control over my direction. We`re happy with where we are. I had a fantastic experience with those organizations. We`ll see what`s next. I anticipate there will be something next, at least one more fight.”
Now a free agent for the first time since 2017 when he joined Bellator from the UFC, Bader is aware of his options.
Similar to his PFL departure, Bader left the UFC amicably and has maintained a positive relationship with the organization, even returning to The Ultimate Fighter to assist Michael Chandler as a coach.
Could Bader return to the UFC for his final fights?
“My manager and I have discussed how appealing a return for even one fight would be,” Bader mentioned regarding a UFC comeback, “to conclude my career where it began. As I said, we are open to it. The movie also opens up interesting possibilities, like Rizin in Japan. The movie is largely set in the same arena where Coleman competed and won, adding a compelling angle. UFC is also a cool angle.”
“But realistically, do I want to fight four more times? No. From their business perspective, it would likely be a farewell arrangement, maybe one or two fights.”
UFC isn`t his only option. Bader mentioned receiving inquiries almost immediately after his PFL release.
“I`m keeping all avenues open,” Bader said. “We`re already in preliminary talks with Rizin. They contacted us promptly with some potentially interesting opportunities. I`m also open to grappling on UFC Fight Pass, and possibly a boxing deal, fun ventures.”
“I`ve been a competitor my entire life, always striving for the top – from collegiate wrestling to MMA, Ultimate Fighter, 20 UFC fights, and Bellator. My mindset has always been about winning.”
Above all, Bader wants to enjoy his remaining fights, without the pressure of chasing titles or top rankings.
Having achieved significant milestones, Bader is now focused on enjoying his final moments in the sport.
“I want something fun to come up, where I can enjoy it,” Bader concluded. “To train one last time for a fight and experience that cage walk feeling again. To put in the effort to get a result and have that post-win satisfaction of accomplishment. There`s no better feeling.”
“I`m not setting a number for remaining fights. It depends on opponents and opportunities. As I said, I`ll always be competitive. I`m not aiming for another title run. I`m looking for one more exciting fight, or maybe two if the offer is irresistible. But my mindset now, if I fight, is to win, but it’s different from the title-chasing mentality I had before. It`s liberating. Financially, it also has to make sense. We`ve already had some very interesting offers, and we`re taking our time to consider them.”
