Ryan Bader is a free agent once more.
The previous Bellator heavyweight champion has amicably parted methods with PFL regardless of having one combat left on his contract. He final appeared within the promotion again in February 2024 when he suffered a loss to Renan Ferreira, which was in the end his solely combat with the PFL.
Sources near the scenario confirmed the information to MMA Combating on Thursday. Ariel Helwani first reported the information.
Following the combat towards Ferreira in 2024, Bader crossed over to performing after touchdown a supporting function alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson within the upcoming movie The Smashing Machine, which is predicated on the lifetime of UFC and PRIDE veteran Mark Kerr.
After filming wrapped, Bader revealed that he nonetheless has one combat left on his cope with PFL, however he wasn’t certain when he would possibly return to motion. Now Bader has cut up with the PFL making him a free agent, however it stays to be seen the place he’ll combat subsequent.
Over the previous few years, Bader reinvented himself as a heavyweight with a 6-1 document with one no-contest in eight fights. His solely loss got here within the combat towards Ferreira, however he scored wins over names reminiscent of Cheick Kongo, Valentin Moldavsky and PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko.
After all, Bader additionally has loads of historical past at gentle heavyweight, which is the place he fought within the UFC for many of his profession. That mentioned, Bader beforehand acknowledged that he had no want to chop again all the way down to 205 kilos once more so it’s seemingly he’s sticking at heavyweight for the long run.
The place he finally ends up is unknown, however Bader is now free to signal with any promotion after receiving his launch from the PFL.
