Anthony Johnson turned Ryan Bader to mush in the span of 86 seconds.
Keeping his place near the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division, Johnson waylaid Bader with punches in the first round of their UFC on Fox 18 main event on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Referee Keith Peterson swooped into save an already unconscious Bader from further abuse 1:26 into round one.
A tactical error sent Bader tumbling into the abyss. “The Ultimate Fighter 8” winner lunged for a single-leg takedown from too far out inside the first minute and put himself in a disadvantageous position beneath a sprawling Johnson.