Anthony Johnson vs. Ryan Bader Preview: Two Light Heavyweights Collide For Possible Title Implications
Two of the UFC's light heavyweight standouts are set to meet at the center of the Octagon on Saturday night as the headliners for UFC on FOX 18.
Slated for the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the event will be headlined by former 205-pound title contender Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and number four-ranked Ryan Bader.
With both men situated at the top five of the UFC's official light heavyweight rankings, it would not be a surprise if the winner of the said fight would be granted the next title shot against either Daniel Cormier or Jon Jones, who are being slated to fight for the title next.
Both men are holding impressive win streaks so far.
Like many of his contemporaries such as UFC champions Fabricio Werdum, Rafael dos Anjos and Robbie Lawler, "Rumble" experienced a late resurgence in his career in his second stint with the company.
After fighting as an oversized welterweight from 2007-2012, which subsequently brought him towards an unsuccessful route, Johnson was released from the company. But after a brief stint in lesser prominent promotion companies where he went 6-0, the UFC took notice and signed him back as a light heavyweight in 2014.
From there, he racked up notable victories against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Phil Davis, and former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson, before losing to current champion Daniel Cormier in his first title fight with the UFC.
He last saw action in September at UFC 191, where he knocked out Jimi Manuwa in the second round of the bout.
Bader, on the other hand, has won five straight fights since losing to another former title challenger in Glover Teixeira last 2013.
Like Johnson, Bader worked his way up the rankings and defeated the likes of Anthony Perosh, Rafael Cavalcante, Ovince Saint Preux, and Phil Davis.
He last saw action against former light heavyweight champion and fellow Ultimate Fighter Alum Rashad Evans in October at UFC 192, where he won by unanimous decision.
