Ryan Bader (Photo/Bellator)Ryan Bader, two-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Arizona State, came out on top of Matt Mitrione in the top-of-the-card event at Bellator 207 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Friday night.
The 35-year-old Bader, Bellator light-heavyweight champ, defeated Mitrione, 40, by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-24) in a semifinals event in Bellator's Heavyweight Grand Prix. The former ASU mat star will now face the winner of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Chael Sonnen in a finals match slated for Jan. 2019.
BloodyElbow.com and FrontProofMedia.com both described "Darth" Bader's victory as "dominant."
"Three rounds of Bader's dominant wrestling mixed in with some ground and pound was more than enough to secure his position as the man waiting to fight for the heavyweight title," according to FrontProofMedia.com.
"Mitrione was noticeably bigger than Bader, he had a size and reach advantage as well as some concerning speed as a heavyweight. None of it would matter as Bader was able to enforce his wrestling since the first bell. There was a moment in round two where it seemed Mitrione could have put together a chain of strikes that may have helped but a simple slip from Bader would open up a takedown that pretty much dictated the entire fight."
BloodyElbow.com reported, "It took about 15 seconds for Bader to shoot in and put Mitrione on his back. When Mitrione did scramble up to his feet, Bader took him right back down, forcing his foe to carry his weight. Several heavy ground strikes landed from the top for Bader, and then a few landed on the feet before the round ended.
"Mitrione came out swinging in the second round, but was again quickly put on his back. Bader did a sound job of pinning one of Mitrione's arms with his arm, allowing himself to punch freely. From side control, Bader nearly hit a Kimora, but Mitrione hung tough and escaped the hold. This was another round that Mitrione was unable to
do anything other than survive. Bader immediately shot in on Mitrione to get a takedown in the opening moments of the final round. More of the same from Bader as Mitrione had zero answers for the wrestling of Bader."
With the win, Bader is now 25-6 in his pro career launched in 2007 (and still in the running for the Bellator heavyweight title) while Mitrione falls to 13-6.
Bader brought an impressive amateur wrestling background to his MMA career. He was a two-time Nevada high school state champion who continued that success as a Sun Devil. In addition to earning All-American honors for Arizona State in 2004 and 2006 at 197 pounds, Bader was a three-time Pac-10 conference champion.
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