Ryan Bader is among several career light heavyweights who is competing in Bellator’s heavyweight Grand Prix. The current Bellator 205-pound champion is scheduled to face Muhammed Lawal on May 12th at Bellator 199, and a win would see him advance to the semifinals to take on heavyweight veteran Matt Mitrione.
On the other side of the bracket are Chael Sonnen (def. Quinton Jackson in January), as well as Fedor Emelianenko and Frank Mir, who will round out the quarterfinals on April 28th. In an interview with MMAjunkie, Bader discussed all of the possible opponents he’d face should he make the final, and his top choice is one that isn’t much of a surprise.