Light heavyweights Ryan Bader and Eric Schafer to Fight at UFC 104
The Ultimate Fighter 8 light heavyweight winner Ryan Bader will be eying his third-straight victory inside the Octagon when he returns from a knee injury to take on fellow 205-pounder Eric Schafer at UFC 104 on October 24 in Los Angeles.
The matchup was announced by Bader on Wednesday on Facebook.
A two-time D-1 All-American wrestler at Arizona State, “Darth” Bader compiled a 7-0 record before winning TUF 8 with a finals victory over Vinny Magalhaes. In his next bout, Bader defeated Carmelo Marrero via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 18 in April but suffered several torn ligaments in his knee during the bout that sidelined him for up to six months.
After leaving the UFC in 2007 following back-to-back losses to Michael Bisping and Stephan Bonnar, Schafer won two-straight before returning to the Octagon for victories over Houston Alexander last September and Antonio Mendes in January. “Red” was slated to return to action at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale in June against Tomasz Drwal but withdrew from the bout after sustaining a rib injury while training.
UFC 104 is headlined by a light heavyweight championship matchup featuring current title-holder Lyoto Machida against challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Heavyweight contenders Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez are set to square off in the PPV card’s co-main event.
For the latest UFC 104 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.
[Pictured: Ryan Bader]
Tags: Eric Schafer, Ryan Bader
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Wow, I honestly thought homeboy would have been out for at least a year. I hope he isn’t rushing his rehab and he actually will be 100% come October 24th.
Eric Shafer should take this one. Bader is still VERY green and has zero stand-up. His wrestling is good,but not yet top notch. Shafer has ok stan-up, but has pretty good subs and he showed in the Houston Alexander fight that he can take a beating and still pull off a sub.
Seems like the matchmakers are trying to give Bader fights that benefit his style. Shafer by sub in the 2nd or 3rd.
first thing Eric The Red should do is go for that knee bottom line…
Bader is coming back pretty quick hope he doesn’t get hurt again, and I also hope he is less one dimensional
This is going to sound like piling on or even chaep-shotting here, but I can’t agree with fr702 more about testing that injured knee.
And it does also sound like he’s getting some “friendly” matchmaking, as mk4 notes, but that should be expected seeing as how he’s a TUF winner. TUF = ratings, and ratings = money, and by extension so do their contestants.
Also, if memory serves, Bader trains with the Arizona crew, and you would think that someone there would have talked to the guy about coming back too soon from what was reported to be a serious knee injury.
From what I remember some of the MMA media was talking about Bader being out to upwards of a year. There’s no way that knee can be at 100%, and Schafer is going to be having Bader constantly trying to close with him, take him down, and pound him out, unless he’s expanded his skill-set, which is unlikely given the injury.
So rather than spend 15 minutes trying to fend off the dreaded g-n-p, Schafer might as launch a few swift kicks to the supposedly healed knee and see whats up there before getting on with his gameplan.
If that knee is solid, I like Bader, if not, Schafer gets the “W”.
i want “darth” to use the force and avenge my boy houston!
I think if Bader wants to test himself he should take Eric Down. But if he wants to win he should keep it on the feet where I think he will have the advantage. The guy just needs to pull the trigger more and utilize his power.
Shafer gets that knee, he gets the fight and a win over a “TUF” winner which looks good on his resume
Bader is good and is real strong. I think he has better stand up than Schafer, but i think Shafer will get the win here via submission. As MK4 already said, he has shown that he can take a serious beating and still pull off a great submission.
Schafer by Sub 2nd round
bader is coming back way too soon. he will not be a 100% and i wouldnt doubt it if he gets hurt during training for the fight. if he doesnt i dont see him winning because that knee isnt a 100%, however he did finish his last fight even though he tore his knee… i still dont see him winning.
Schaefer by sub in the 2nd. Eric is a beast and his greatest strenght is exactly where Ryan is gonna want to put him. Red has subbed some very tough dudes not only in the UFC but also at NAGA and other very large Jiu-Jitsu competitions. He recieved his Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Henry Matamoros, Wisconsin’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.