The UFC Fight Night card scheduled for June 6 at the Smoothie King Center in Louisiana will feature a light heavyweight bout between Daniel Cormier and Ryan Bader.
Bader is the guy looking to step up, as he is riding a four-fight winning streak that has seen his stock go skyrocketing, and a win over Cormier would almost certainly result in a title shot next for Bader. Back in February of 2011, Bader dropped a match to Jones, so a title fight for him with Jon Jones would be a rematch. Should Jones drop the belt to Anthony Johnson when they meet two weeks earlier, then Bader will likely have to wait and see while Jones gets a rematch.
For Cormier, he is coming off a loss to Jones in a title bid, and he will be looking to avoid a second loss in a row. It is a bit surprising that Cormier did not return to the heavyweight division, where he fought most of his career. He has made 205 lbs. three times now, so his past problems making weight are not an issue, and the job he did to hype the match with Jones was certainly attention-getting. Cormier must be fancying another run at Jones and the light heavyweight title, though he may need one more win after this one to truly earn it.
Look for Cormier to be favored in this one when the line hits the books, as it is a very hard fight for him. Bader won a split decision over Phil Davis in his last outing in a solid performance where he outworked Davis. Davis is a wrestling based fighter, but Bader handled him.
But the Davis fight is not a good indication of how this one is going to go, as Cormier is a different animal. Not only is he a better wrestler than Bader or Davis, he is a much more complete offensive fighter. Whereas Davis uses his wrestling to get close and control his opponents, only then looking to see what offense he can mount, Cormier uses his wrestling to control where the fight is going to be, and he is not aftraid to throw down. Cormier is much more forceful with his ground and pound than Davis, and unlike Davis, he isnt afraid to face an opponent and throw down.
Bader was hot after he beat Quinton Jackson, but he lost a step up fight to Lyoto Machida in his next outing. Then a loss to Glover Teixeira, who was ranked above him, set him back as well. Look for Cormier to be Bader’s next setback.
