Bellator MMA Fighter Rankings: Ryan Bader holds steady after dominant win over Lyoto Machida
Bader got back on the winning track by grinding out Machida in the first round of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix
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2 min read
After losing the light heavyweight championship in 2020, heavyweight champion Ryan Bader knew the road to once again becoming a two-division championship would be difficult. Bader took the first step this past Friday when he won a unanimous decision over Lyoto Machida in the first round of the Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 256.
Picking up the victory kept Bader steady as the No. 1 ranked fighter in the 205-pound division, one spot below champ Vadim Nemkov, who won the title off Bader via second-round knockout. Nemkov will defend the belt throughout the tournament, and the last of the eight men standing will not only be the tournament winner, but the light heavyweight champion.
The tournament continues on Friday with Bellator 257, which features Nemkov vs. Phil Davis and Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in first round action.
Below is the full top-10 rankings for each division within the promotion, voted on by 17 members of the media.
Editor's note: CBS Sports insider Brian Campbell is a member of the 17-person voting panel. Bellator and CBS Sports are both owned by ViacomCBS.
Bellator Rankings (April 13)
Men's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
2. Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
3. Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
4. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
5. Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
6. Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
7. AJ McKee | 17-0 |
8. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
9. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
10. Yaroslav Amasov | 25-0 |
Bantamweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| Champion: Juan Archuleta | 25-2 |
1. Sergio Pettis | 20-5 |
2. Patchy Mix | 13-1 |
3. Magomed Magomedov | 18-1 |
4. Raufeon Stots | 15-1 |
5. James Gallagher | 11-1 |
6. Leandro Higo | 20-5 |
7. Josh Hill | 20-3 |
8. Jornel Lugo | 6-0 |
9. Cass Bell | 5-2 |
10. Brian Moore | 13-7 |
Featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
1. AJ McKee | 17-0 |
2. Emmanuel Sanchez | 20-5 |
3. Adam Borics | 16-1 |
4. Pedro Carvalho | 11-4 |
5. Daniel Weichel | 40-12 |
6. Aaron Pico | 7-3 |
7. Jay Jay Wilson | 7-0 |
8. Jeremy Kennedy | 16-2 |
9. Tywan Claxton | 6-2 |
10. Mads Burnell | 14-3 |
Lightweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Patricio Pitbull | 32-4 |
1. Brent Primus | 10-1 |
2. Patricky Pitbull | 23-9 |
3. Goiti Yamauchi | 25-4 |
4. Benson Henderson | 28-10 |
5. Sidney Outlaw | 15-4 |
6. Myles Jury | 19-5 |
7. Adam Piccolotti | 12-4 |
8. Alfie Davis | 14-3 |
9. Dan Moret | 15-6 |
10. Aviv Goali | 5-0 |
Welterweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Douglas Lima | 32-8 |
1. Yaroslav Amasov | 25-0 |
2. Michael Page | 18-1 |
3. Jason Jackson | 14-4 |
4. Neiman Gracie | 10-2 |
5. Logan Storley | 11-1 |
6. Derek Anderson | 17-3 |
7. Joey Davis | 8-0 |
8. Sabah Homasi | 15-8 |
9. Oliver Enkamp | 10-2 |
10. Jaleel Willis | 14-2 |
Middleweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Gegard Mousasi | 47-7-2 |
1. John Salter | 18-4 |
2. Anatoly Tokov | 29-2 |
3. Austin Vanderford | 10-0 |
4. Fabian Edwards | 9-1 |
5. Costello van Steenis | 13-2 |
6. Johnny Eblen | 7-0 |
7. Charlie Ward | 9-4 |
8. Mike Shipman | 14-3 |
9. Romero Cotton | 5-0 |
10. Ed Ruth | 8-3 |
Light heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Vadim Nemkov | 12-2 |
1. Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
2. Phil Davis | 22-5 |
3. Corey Anderson | 14-5 |
4. Lyoto Machida | 26-10 |
5. Julius Anglickas | 9-1 |
6. Grant Neal | 5-0 |
7. Christian Edwards | 4-0 |
8. Tyree Fortune | 5-0 |
9. Melvin Manhoef | 32-15-1 |
10. Alex Polizzi | 7-1 |
Heavyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Ryan Bader | 27-6 |
1. Timothy Johnson | 15-6 |
2. Cheick Kongo | 30-11-2 |
3. Valentin Moldavsky | 10-1 |
4. Tyrell Fortune | 10-1 |
5. Fedor Emelianenko | 39-6 |
6. Linton Vassell | 20-8 |
7. Steven Mowry | 8-0 |
8. Matt Mitrione | 13-8 |
9. Sergei Kharitonov | 32-8 |
10. Javy Ayala | 11-8 |
Women's pound-for-pound
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
1. Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
2. Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
3. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
4. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
5. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
6. Liz Carmouche | 15-7 |
7. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
8. Cat Zingano | 12-4 |
9. Kana Watanabe | 10-0-1 |
10. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
Women's flyweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Juliana Velasquez | 11-0 |
1. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane | 11-1 |
2. Liz Carmouche | 14-7 |
3. Kana Watanabe | 10-0-1 |
4. Denise Kielholtz | 6-2 |
5. Alejandra Lara | 9-4 |
| 6. Kate Jackson | 11-5-1 |
| 7. Veta Arteaga | 5-4 |
| 8. Mandy Bohm | 7-0 |
| 9. Valerie Loureda | 3-0 |
| 10. Bruna Ellen | 5-3 |
Women's featherweight
| Fighter | Record |
|---|---|
| (C) Cris Cyborg | 23-2 |
1. Julia Budd | 14-3 |
2. Arlene Blencowe | 13-8 |
3. Cat Zingano | 11-4 |
4. Leslie Smith | 12-8-1 |
5. Sinead Kavanagh | 7-4 |
6. Janay Harding | 6-4 |
7. Amanda Bell | 7-7 |
8. Leah McCourt | 4-1 |
9. Olga Rubin | 6-2 |
10. Jessy Miele | 9-5 |
