Ryan Bader to Fight Rizin Grand Prix Winner on New Year’s Eve

The global MMA landscape continues to evolve as top promotions like UFC, ONE Championship, and the now-unified PFL-Bellator brand compete for talent and attention. While each promotion boasts its own stars and signature events, surprise moves can still shake the sport’s foundation. This week, we learned that a well-known veteran who once held top-contender status in the UFC is set to make a major return—just not under the banner where he first made his name.

The announcement came via Rizin.tv’s official X account: ‘Ryan Bader will face the Grand Prix Champion on New Year's Eve!’ His return comes as the heavyweight Grand Prix unfolds, with semifinal matchups now taking shape. Mikio Ueda stopped Shoma Shibisai with brutal leg kicks, José Augusto Azevedo edged past Tsuyoshi Sudario via decision, and Marek Samociuk advanced by outpointing Daniel James. One bout—between Alexander Soldatkin and Islambek Baktybek Uulu—was postponed due to injury. The tournament winner will meet Bader in a year-end headliner in Japan.

Ryan Bader

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Bader, known for a grinding wrestling base and KO power, racked up a strong UFC resume from 2009 to 2016. His eventual exit caught many by surprise, especially considering the momentum he had built leading up to his departure. He tangled with legends like Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, and Glover Teixeira. After finishing both Ilir Latifi and Antônio Rogério Nogueira in highlight-reel fashion, Bader walked away on a two-fight win streak—citing stalled contract talks as his reason for exiting. He then signed with Bellator, where he became a two-division champ and helped define their light heavyweight and heavyweight scenes.

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Now aligned with Rizin, Bader’s inclusion adds firepower and legitimacy to the Grand Prix. With his championship pedigree and fan-friendly style, his return offers fireworks—just in time for the New Year.