Their bout was confirmed Monday night by UFC officials, making it the second announced outing for the August 4 card in as many days after the recent revealing of Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard.

Machida is coming off a submission loss to Jon Jones, his third defeat in four previous pairings including a razor-thin decision to Quinton Jackson and TKO to Mauricio Rua. However, the stumbles are the only three of Machida’s career with the Brazilian holding an overall record of 17-3 with past wins over the likes of Rua, Randy Couture, Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz, and Rashad Evans.

Like Machida, the 14-2 Bader’s only in-ring blemishes came against men who have held UFC gold (Jones/Ortiz). Since his shocking loss to Ortiz last July he has racked up back-to-back victories with his most recent involving an outpointing of Jackson at UFC 144.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Midway through the second round Jackson proved his critics wrong, scooping Bader up against the fence and slamming him down face-first to the mat. While Bader never lost consciousness the impact clearly injured him, something he openly admitted to in an interview with the UFC shortly after making his way backstage.

“I knew he was waiting for something because he was a little too relaxed right there with his head. He was just waiting for me to knee the head and he caught my leg,” explained Bader of the sequence resulting in Jackson’s biggest offense of the entire fight. “He’s a strong dude so he picked me up and slammed me right on my head, and I was out of it, honestly, for a little bit. But I recovered and that’s what it’s about, just staying in there and battling, and that’s what happened.”

While the 14-2 Bader has notched some notable victories since showing up in the UFC three years ago the 28-year old has no illusions when it comes to which of the lot is the most significant in his career.

“This is my favorite win of all time,” said Bader of his performance. “Coming in and winning the Ultimate Fighter, it’s not really in the UFC. You start over right when you get in the UFC. That’s what I learned, real quick. I had a couple of losses last year. Starting this year off right so getting a win over “Rampage”…he just fought for the title, Top 5 in the division…so I couldn’t have asked for more.”

No word has surfaced on what might be next for Bader though, if he has his way, it will involve a little time off rather than an immediate match-up.

Watch the full interview below:

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

However, when Bader enters the Octagon this weekend against Quinton Jackson at UFC 144 he’ll do so as a significant underdog. Even Jackson, whose experience and accomplishments outweigh Bader’s without question, hasn’t seemed particularly jazzed about the pairing so much as the fight taking place in his former stomping ground of Japan.

Of course, none of that fazes Bader. In fact he actually enjoys the lack of pressure created by so many people counting him out.

“He’s fought over there, he’s popular over there…but that doesn’t matter to me. I relish the role of the underdog, going in there and beating someone like ‘Rampage’,” said Bader in an interview with the UFC promoting Saturday night’s scrap. “So, if anything, that’s gonna give me more motivation.”

As far as achieving his goal and beating Jackson, Bader has no illusions about the difficulty in doing so but has a gameplan in mind that could very well be successful given some of Jackson’s past difficulties against accomplished grapplers.

“I’m gonna be smart about it,” explained Bader. “I’m not gonna just go out there and trade punches with ‘Rampage’. I’m not afraid to go out there and strike with him but I’m gonna mix every bit of my MMA training up. I’m gonna use my wrestling, I’m gonna use some kicks, I’m gonna use some boxing.”

“If I go in there just trying to take him down that’s not gonna work. I’ve gotta mix everything up,” he concluded on the topic.

Bader-Jackson serves as the co-headliner at UFC 144 with Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson filling the main event slot. Other featured bouts on PPV include Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, Bart Palaszewski vs. Hatsu Hioki, and Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis.

Check out the full interview with Bader below:

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Though “Rampage” had originally requested Mauricio Rua or Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar made it a point to mention a possible match-up with Jackson at the event, the 33-year old will instead face Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner Ryan Bader inside the familiar confines of Saitama Super Arena.

News of the bout was first reported by ESPN who cited UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta as the source.

Bader is fresh off an opening round knockout of Jason Brilz from UFC 139 and holds an overall record of 13-2 including past wins over Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Though an accomplished amateur wrestler, “Darth” Bader often turns to the darkside in terms of finishing opponents off with nine of his victories involving some form of stoppage.

The 32-9 Jackson wasn’t quite as fortunate in his last outing, tapping to divisional champion Jon Jones’ Rear-Naked Choke in their title-fight at UFC 135. “Rampage” made a name for himself in MMA during an earlier run in Japan as part of the PRIDE organization before transitioning to the UFC where he’s found success in bouts against Chuck Liddell, Lyoto Machida, and Dan Henderson.

UFC 144 is headlined by Frankie Edgar putting his lightweight belt on the line against Ben Henderson with other expected pairings including Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch, Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon, and Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields.

PHOTO CREDIT – FEG/UFC

Now, after refocusing himself in camps with the likes of Aaron Simpson, the former NCAA Div. I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University feels like he is ready to put on a display that will impress the MMA world.

Bader faces Jason Brilz in a light heavyweight tilt this Saturday night at UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson. The bout will be televised by Spike TV.

“I’m going back to being that same fighter, but a more technically sound fighter,” said Bader, in a recent interview with UFC’s website. “I think I was missing some aggressiveness and was flat in the last couple fights. Looking at my training camps, I think I was over-training. The first fight with Jones was my first loss and a big fight, but what happened with Tito – I had to just put it behind me and move on.”

Bader’s new head coach, Tom Vaughn, has helped give him a sense of direction. He also started a gym with Simpson and C.B. Dollaway in Arizona called Power MMA & Fitness.

“He (Vaughn) has helped us out a tremendous amount. Having that game-planning, having that overall head coach. He’s been in the game for a while and he knows MMA,” Bader said. “I feel like a totally new fighter, especially in the stand-up area. I’ve learned from that loss and I’m happy with all the changes we made.”

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

According to the UFC’s website, Bader will face Jason Brilz at the show who himself is on a two-fight skid and will have little to lose when it comes to their impending match-up.

“Darth” Bader was last seen at UFC 132 where he was left befuddled by Tito Ortiz in one of the biggest upsets in recent history after “The Huntingon Beach Bad Boy” left him stunned with a well-timed punch, then moved in for the submission finish. As a result, the All-American wrestler out of Arizona State is now coming off back-to-back Guillotine Choke defeats after winning twelve straight to open up his MMA career including victories against Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Brilz came to fans’ attention after beating Tim Boestch and Eric Schafer in the Octagon, then nearly taking out Nogueira at UFC 114, but was knocked out in twenty seconds by Vladmir Matyushenko at the UFC’s milestone event in Toronto this past April. He holds an overall record of 18-4-1 with fourteen finishes featuring five TKOs and nine submissions.

UFC 139 is headlined by Cain Velasquez defending his heavyweight belt against Brazilian brawler Junior dos Santos and is also set to feature a showdown between former WEC champs Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

The two men had initially hinted at an in-ring encounter through brief exchanges of online trash-talk with news of the bout being confirmed with sources close to the match-up by MMAWeekly.

Though both light heavyweights are coming off losses they are each at very different points in their careers. The 15-8-1 Ortiz hasn’t tasted victory since October 2006 with four losses and a draw in his last five fights. However, he has also gone the distance against a trio of former 205-pound champs during the stretch including Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, and Lyoto Machida, and only recently claimed to be 100% healthy after dealing with chronic back/neck injuries.

Comparably, Bader’s defeat marked the first of his career and came against current title-holder Jon Jones. The second-round submission at UFC 126 broke a twelve-fight winning streak for the Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner including victories over Keith Jardine and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Other fights announced for the July 2 card thus far include a headlining rematch between Jon Fitch and B.J. Penn as well as three tilts featuring notable lightweights in the form of Matt Wiman vs. Dennis Siver, Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller, and George Sotiropoulos vs. Evan Dunham.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

As expected, Anderson Silva will put his middleweight belt up for grabs against former 205-pound champ Vitor Belfort in the evening’s headlining match-up on February 5 at UFC 126.

“This is a fight I’ve been looking forward to for a while,” Silva said of his upcoming defense against Belfort. “Vitor is a very talented striker and a tough competitor. I am training very hard and I know that the fight could go anywhere, but I expect a standup war. I also want to say that I’m very excited to be fighting in Las Vegas again. I have a lot of fans in Vegas and it’s been a while since I’ve fought there. The fans are always very loud in Las Vegas and I feed off that energy.”

“UFC fans expect big things from us every year for our Super Bowl weekend show, and this year could be our biggest ever,” an equally excited Dana White said. “Silva vs. Belfort is a fight fan’s dream match. It’s a fight people have wanted for years. Don’t blink because both of these guys have dynamite in their hands and can end the night quickly and in very exciting fashion.”

Also slated for action against each other are two of the UFC’s most-popular fighters, as well as former champions in their own right, Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin. Griffin has not fought since his split decision win over Tito Ortiz in November 2009 and will no doubt be anxious to engage with “Ace” once the cage door closes.

In addition to Griffin vs. Franklin, the UFC confirmed another pair of light heavyweights would be facing off at the event – Jon Jones and Ryan Bader. Bader is currently undefeated in thirteen professional appearances, while Jones’ only loss was the result of landing an ultimately meaningless illegal elbow in the process of pounding Matt Hamill out last December and being disqualified. Both are coming off impressive victories, albeit of a different variety. Bader out-pointed Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 119 in September, while Jones has back-to-back first round TKOs over Brandon Vera and Vladimir Matyushenko since the disappointing “DQ” defeat to Hamill.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Speaks About his Eye Injury (MMAFighting.com)

Wanderlei Silva Has Some Choice Words for Chael Sonnen (MMAConvert.com)

TUF 12′s “Bruce Leroy” Tests his “Glow” in a Backyard Brawl (MiddleEasy.com)

Ryan Bader Looking for the Knockout at UFC 119 (FIGHT! Magazine)

The First Promo for Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez Shows Up (MMAScraps.com)

Ed Soares Says Anderson Silva May Not Be Ready for Vitor Belfort Until Februray 2011 (CagePotato.com)

Dana White Sounds Off on Chael Sonnen’s Recent Drug Test Results (WatchKalibRun.com)

Highlights from the UFC 119 Pre-Fight Press Conference (Heavy.com)

Josh Grispi Added to WEC 52 (Versus.com)

Make sure to check out the show on 1360 AM, or you can catch it right here on the web at RearNakedRadio.

The show is set to kick off on Friday evening, January 21, beginning at 7 pm ET (6 pm CT, 4 pm PT), lasting until 9 pm ET (8 pm CT, 6 pm PT) .

Live TV : Ustream

Ryan Bader

UFC 110 is expected to take place on February 21 from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, marking the promotion’s first trip to the land down under.

Bader will be looking to improve on his unblemished career that has included three victories in the Octagon when he faces off with Jardine in February. “Darth” has put together wins over the likes of Vinny Magalhaes, Carmelo Marrero and Eric Schafer in his last three bouts with the UFC.

With monumental victories over the likes of Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell in the Octagon, Jardine just hasn’t been able to string enough wins together at any point in his career to be given serious title consideration. Something he hopes to change coming off of consecutive victories at the hands of Quinton Jackson and Thiago Silva.

Other bouts anticipated for the UFC’s first card in Australia include Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping, and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Ben Rothwell.

The event is scheduled for October 24 in Los Angeles.

The bout announcement was recently made public through Bader’s Twitter account.

Bader will be looking to remain undefeated during his fighting career. He has compiled a 2-0 record during his time spent with the UFC following the show with a finale win over Vinny Magalhaes and a decision victory over Carmello Marrero.

Schafer is also coming of back to back victories in the octagon with recent victories over Houston Alexander and Antonio Mendes on his resume.

With both men coming off of consecutive wins in the UFC, the winner of this bout will emerge as a clear cut contender at 205 pounds.

After fighting on some smaller circuits Bader was cast on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter and was coach Antonio Noguiera’s first overall pick. He did not disappoint as he plowed through the competition defeating Vinny Magalhaes in the finale to earn the six figure contract.

Bader trains at Arizona Combat Sports with fellow Arizona State teammate C.B. Dolloway, Jamie Varner, Aaron Simpson and Carlos Condit. Bader recently defeated UFC and WEC veteran Carmelo Marrero at the UFC Fight Night on April 1 by unanimous decision. Unfortunately the victory did not come without consequences as Bader suffered a knee injury during the first round of the fight. On the bright side the injury wasn’t as serious as first believed and Bader should be back in action before you know it.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently had the chance to speak with Bader and found him to be extremely articulate and engaging while holding nothing back. Here is how the conversation went down.

Bryan Levick for FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What was the exact nature of the injury you suffered during your fight against Carmelo Marrerro April 1?

Ryan Bader: I tore my MCL off the bone on my knee and I tore my PCL. I am going in for another MRI in about an hour. I completely tore my MCL but as of right now I am not going to require surgery which is good so I will just try and let it heal up right now.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How long do you think you will out of action for?

Ryan Bader: I was told about 6 weeks and right now I am not doing much as far as any wrestling or grappling, I have to wait to start that back up we just have to see how the rehab goes. I am in the gym hitting the mitts so it’s not too bad.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How and when did the injury occur?

Ryan Bader: It was in the first round, I had taken him down and had passed into side control and my toes got caught up on his knee a little bit and I hurt a loud pop. While I was down it didn’t hurt too much but when I stood back up I could feel it.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How would you grade your overall performance?

Ryan Bader: I am my toughest critic and I felt like I could have used more jiu-jitsu, when I had his back I could have thrown in the hooks but it was difficult maybe because of the injury to my knee. Other than that I am fine with it. My stand up could have been tighter. The injury caused me to change up my game plan a little bit. It is what it is and I am happy to have won.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: During the first round I was impressed with your attempt at an arm bar, I didn’t really see any jiu-jitsu from you while on the The Ultimate Fighter. Who is you BJJ trainer these days?

Ryan Bader: Gustavo Dantas is the instructor down here at Arizona Combat Sports. He was won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world championship a couple of times. He is the main coach. I did practice jiu-jitsu while on the show and I learned a lot from Noguiera. You will see more jiu-jitsu from me as I get more comfortable as the fights go on.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Regarding your time spent on The Ultimate Fighter what did you do to keep yourself occupied while in the house?

Ryan Bader: Well there really was nothing to do so we sat around and told stories most of the time. We just tried to keep busy and I looked forward to training twice a day. We would cook dinner together and spent time in the hot tub talking about our past.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Was it hard not to get caught up in all of the extra-curricular activities?

Ryan Bader: Sometimes especially when it was all around you but you just have to focus on your goals at hand. I wanted to win the show and that’s all I needed to stay away from all the crap going on around me. I just stuck to my goals and didn’t worry about getting drunk all the time.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Was there ever a time that you wanted to grab a hold of Junie and tell him to knock it off?

Ryan Bader: Oh yeah first was the swimming pool incident and then when he threw the glass at Kyle. There were a couple of times when I just said what is wrong with you and I wanted to beat his ass but we knew we would get in trouble so we learned to keep our cool no matter how much he provoked us.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How were you contacted about being a contestant on the show?

Ryan Bader: I was kind of recruited a little bit. C.B. Dolloway who is one of my training partners was on the show the season before and he put in a word for me. At the time I was undefeated with 6 or 7 wins. So I went and tried out and passed all the medicals and the rest is history.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What was it like training under Noguiera?

Ryan Bader: It was amazing I got to watch how a true champion trains day in and day out, he was one of the coolest guys I have ever met and I can’t say enough good things about him. Just watching him work actually help me elevate my game. He forced us to be a team and we were tight. That is why both winners came from our team. The whole coaching staff was amazing they invited me to come down to Miami to train before The Ultimate Fighter Finale and it was truly amazing working with all of them.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Were you surprised at the outcome of his fight with Mir?

Ryan Bader: Yes, I was surprised to watch the fight and see it end like that. I had heard he had a staph infection and it was hard to watch but he will be back. He is fighting Randy Couture soon and he will be back in true form.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What other MMA fighters attended Arizona State University with you?

Ryan Bader: Cain Velasquez who is one of the UFC’s top heavyweight prospects. He graduated with C.B. Dolloway and myself and we were All-Americans. Aaron Simpson was one of our assistant coaches, he had a big knockout victory on the same card I fought on April 1.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What is it like having Carlos Condit part of the Arizona Combats Sports team?

Ryan Bader: Having Carlos here is awesome he came in and immediately elevated the intensity of the room. He has a lot of great knees and elbows and we needed that at the gym. We have a lot of great wrestlers and kick boxers but he brings a whole new dimension to the gym. He is an extremely hard worker and when we were all training for our fights together it was amazing the way we all pushed each other. He will not let anyone slack off and he has been a great addition to our camp.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Your camp is quickly becoming one of the top camps in MMA. Who are some of the younger guys you train with that we should keep our eyes on?

Ryan Bader: We have a ton of younger guys in fact there are too many too name. Jacob McClintock is coming up he is a jiu-jitsu guy. We have some guys who are fighting in the Bellator tournament. Basically anyone who fights at Arizona Combat Sports you should watch out for.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com:: Besides your wrestling what would you say are your strengths?

Ryan Bader: I have pretty heavy hands in the gym I am getting better and better with my stand-up.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What are the areas you feel you need to work on most?

Ryan Bader: I would say throwing combinations kick boxing wise. I need to learn to throw more combinations.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Were you a fan of MMA growing up?

Ryan Bader: I watched it here and there but I didn’t think about fighting until I got out of college. Jesse Forbes came in and was fighting Matt Hamill and he needed some wrestlers to spar with. So I went into the gym and was just going to train and how things went. Then I had my first fight and I loved it and stuck to it.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Who are some of the fighters around today that you really enjoy watching?

Ryan Bader: I really like watching Nogueira fight. Getting to train with him for six weeks gave me a great appreciation for what he does in his fights. I really like watching any wrestler fight, someone with the same background as me. I also really like watching Couture and Dan Henderson fight as well.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Who do you think will win the rematch between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar?

Ryan Bader: I would have to say Lesnar as he is too big and too strong. I think he has learned and grown a lot in the year that has passed since they fought the first time. Mir told us that when he was on the ground and Lesnar was on top of him that those were some of the hardest punches he has ever felt even though Mir is saying different now he was pretty clear when he was telling us about it while on the show.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: If there was one fighter from the past that you could fight who would it be?

Ryan Bader: I would actually like to fight Royce Gracie in one of the early tournaments when he was wrecking everybody. Just to see how much MMA has progressed since then.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank? Your fans or any sponsors?

Ryan Bader: I have my website up it is www.ryanbader.com and you can see videos on there of me training. I also have a blog on there and you will see my sponsors. I would really like to thank Klenz Towel for their support you can visit their site at www.klenztowel.com they are doing a whole program to support the troops. If anyone sends a box over to the troops I will send them a autographed photo and they will be doing something to help out the troops which is really cool.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com was informed of the matchup from a source close to one of the fighters.

Bader won his TUF 8 crown following a first round TKO over Vinicius Magalhaes during the show’s live finale last month. A former All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, Bader is 8-0 in his career with seven of his eight victories having ended inside the distance.

He’ll be facing another former amateur wrestler in Marrero, who is returning to the UFC after being released from the organization in May of 2007. Marrero, 10-2, last competed in November at WEC 36, where he recorded a split decision victory over Steve Steinbeiss. He was transferred over to the UFC after the WEC closed both its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Marrero might be best known for his upset victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 64. However, he was released from his contract after experiencing back-to-back losses to Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 66 and Wilson Gouveia at UFC 71.

UFN 18 will take place in Nashville, Tenn. and the two-hour live telecast on Spike TV will precede the season premiere for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

During the course of the interview, Bader discusses his feelings about entering the fight an underdog and the punch delivered to Magalhaes that effectively ended the fight.

Bader joins the growing influx of top level collegiate wrestlers that have invaded the sport of mixed martial arts in recent years. The 24-year old light heavyweight had over 120 victories while wrestling for Arizona State University. He went on to become a three time PAC 10 Champion and two time NCAA Division I All-American.

The Tempe, Arizona native has made the transition from pure wrestling to MMA look easy since joining up with one of the sports top gyms, Arizona Combat Sports in 2007. Carving a path of destruction at 205 pounds since jumping head first into the sport, Bader has gone undefeated in his career and fought six times in 2007 alone. He is known for his powerful slams, suffocating wrestling, punishing ground and pound and has shown impressive boxing in many of his fights.

The man that is affectionately known as “Darth” Bader will be presented with some unique challenges when he steps into the octagon with Magalhaes to find out who is this seasons “Ultimate Fighter” at 205 pounds. Magalhaes is one of the most decorated submission grapplers that has ever stepped onto a mat. The 23-year old native of Rio De Janeiro holds world championships at the Pan American Games, the Brazilian Nationals, and the American Nationals, among others.

Bader spoke exclusively with FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently about being on the brink of this huge opportunity in his career, how he matches up with Magalhaes and what the future holds for him in the UFC at 205.

Cory Brady: Would you say your overall experience on the show was a good one or were you just dying to get out of there towards the end?

Ryan Bader: Yes, I would say it was a great experience. There was times when all you wanted to do was just get out of there but focusing on my goals helped a ton. There was good times and bad times in the house just as if you were at home. Overall I had fun and would do it again.

Cory Brady: What have you been up to since the show wrapped up?

Ryan Bader: Just training full-time. I took some time off right after the show and went away for a couple weeks. I came back and got right back in the gym. I just enjoyed being free and able to do whatever I wanted to do. That was huge to me after being cooped up in the house for so long. So not too much, just enjoying everyday life and training.

Cory Brady: Are you still living with C.B. Dollaway?

Ryan Bader: Yep, we still live together. We get along and have a lot of fun. We lead a similar life, with the same career and what not so it is easy to get along. Its also nice having somebody that knows what you are going through when you are going through a training camp. A lot of people don’t realize the work, dedication and sacrifices it takes. So some friends cant understand why I cant go out with them Saturday night, or why I am so “grumpy.” So we usually find ways to take our mind off of the fight and have fun without sacrificing what we are working towards.

Cory Brady: How are you feeling physically in the days leading up to the biggest fight of your career?

Ryan Bader: I feel great! I am in awesome shape right now and I feel I have gotten a lot better and have grown as a fighter. I am really looking forward to getting back in the cage. It has been too long!

Cory Brady: How confident do you feel going into your fight with Vinny?

Ryan Bader: I feel very confident. I am in great shape. My skill set is up and I am hungry for this win. I am very excited to get in there and mix it up with him.

Cory Brady: How do you feel you match up with Vinny?

Ryan Bader: I feel that I match up very well with him. He is amazing on the ground, but with my wrestling I feel that I can dictate where the fight takes place. I feel that I am better on my feet and that I am a lot more mentally tough, and if it goes to the later rounds I will have a definite advantage.

Cory Brady: Have you traveled anywhere to prepare for this one or have you stayed at home with Arizona Combat Sports for the most part?

Ryan Bader: I have stayed at Arizona Combat Sports with an exception of one week at Nogueira’s gym in Miami. It is nice to be around your training partners and your own trainers who know how you are progressing, how your body works, and what you need and don’t need to work on for the upcoming fight.

Cory Brady: Who are some of the key people that have helped you prepare for this fight?

Ryan Bader: The Lally brothers, Gustavo Dantes. These people are my main trainers and have helped me tremendously. Also my training partners, C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson, Jesse Forbes, Steinbeiss brothers, Jacob McClintock and many many more. I couldn’t do it alone and they are always there pushing me and making sure that I am where I need to be.

Cory Brady: Who have you been training your submission game with?

Ryan Bader: I have been doing my Jiu Jitsu with Gustavo Dantes and Jacob McClintock. Gustavo is a stud world champion and Jacob has a similar style as Vinny with a lot of rubber guard, flying armbars, etc. I also roll and work out with as many high level grapplers as I can.

Cory Brady: You will definitely have the advantage in the wrestling department. Will you be confident in utilizing your ground and pound against against a guy like Vinny?

Ryan Bader: Yes, I am not afraid of being on top of Vinny. He has some slick submissions but I am not going to fight him like I fought Eliot. I will be punishing him so he never even gets the chance to play his game.

Cory Brady: Do you feel you have the superior stand up game?

Ryan Bader: Yes I do and it is evolving everyday. We are both not stand up studs by any means but I definitely have more power. I have been working hard and will be bringing a lot more into this fight. I feel like I have yet to show my true stand up skills in a fight and am looking forward to doing that.

Cory Brady: Will you be looking to make a statement in this fight?

Ryan Bader: Most definitely, I will be looking to make a big statement. I had a lackluster fight with Eliot and am looking to get that back. A nice KO would be perfect!

Cory Brady: How do you visualize this one ending?

Ryan Bader: Me the victor. I am going in this fight to finish it so it would be great any way I can achieve that.

Cory Brady: How excited are you to test yourself in UFC’s stacked 205 pound division?

Ryan Bader: Very excited. I am a competitor and want to test myself and there is no better place than the UFC especially at 205.

Cory Brady: What does the future hold for Ryan Bader in the UFC?

Ryan Bader: The future will hold success. I am looking to have a long successful career and one day be the champ. That is my ultimate goal, if it wasn’t I don’t know why I would be in this sport. I want to be the best at what I do.

Cory Brady: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Ryan Bader: I would like to thank my camp Arizona Combat Sport and the Lally brothers first off. All my training partners that have helped me get to where I am today. Also Jason Genet with LG Sports Marketing. Also check out www.ryanbader.com.

The first fighter to look out for is light heavyweight prospect Ryan “Darth” Bader. Bader was a three-time PAC 10 champion and a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State University. He was on a wrestling team at ASU with notable UFC fighters C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez. He currently trains out of Arizona Combat Sports with the likes of Dollaway, Jamie Varner, Jesse Forbes, and Ray Steinbess and carries a 7-0 professional record coming into the show.

With Bader’s strong wrestling credentials he certainly looks like he could contend for the light heavyweight contract on this season of TUF. As you can see in the video below, his striking needs work but his wrestling is pretty explosive. And though his striking may not be very clean just yet, it does appear that his punches have good power on them. Even if Bader doesn’t win the contract or make the finals it’s possible, unless something freakish occurs, that we could see him emerge as a fighter who stays with the UFC after the show is over.

– In case you missed it, MMAjunkie.com (formerly UFCjunkie.com) reported the other day that Jason Reinhardt is claiming his next match will be at UFC 78 in Newark against Joe Lauzon. It looks like Joe and Karo Parisyan will be on the same card after all.

– The guys at Junkie also broke the news the other day that the match between Pete Sell vs. Nate Quarry scheduled for UFC Fight Night 11 on Sept. 19 has been bumped up to the televised portion of the card. The match replaces the bout that was to have taken place between Jonathan Goulet and Mike Swick. Goulet is still expected to appear on the preliminary portion of the card against Dustin Hazelett.

– Junkie is also reporting that Corey Hill has opt of a joining Matt Hughes’ new gym in Illinois. Man, when is that guy going to finally make his UFC debut and get his career rolling?

– Spencer Fisher has left a message on his MySpace page that his next UFC fight could be in November. Fisher was scratched from the UFN 11 card after contracted staph infection.