MMA Rumors: Bader Open To Champion vs. Champion Clash With Jones

KEY POINTS

Bader wants to avenge 2011 loss to Jones
Jones likely to face Reyes first
Bader hails Jones as greatest, someone he can beat

Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader hails Jon Jones as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all-time but believed he can bring him down. The 36-year-old has not forgotten how Jones ended his winning run before, dealing him his first loss in the Octagon. Now, "Darth" wants another crack at "Bones" although it will take a lot of effort to make.

It was in 2011 when Bader faced Jones at UFC 126. Bones ended up winning that one when he forced Bader to submission via guillotine choke in the second round. That loss snapped Bader's 12-fight winning run and it took him some time to get his bearings back. He was erratic from there and fell to the likes of Tito Ortiz and Anthony Johnson. But the American mixed martial artist seems to have gotten things together and has racked up successive wins.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Bader shared how he would be open to facing Jones again. He says things have changed and could care less about the kind of match he and Bones would be fighting in.

"That's one fight I'd love to get back," Bader said. "It was 2011 when that happened. I've grown and changed so much since then. Physically, mentally. We'd love to be able to do some cross-promotion deal."

While that would be something, it is a fight that may have to get in line. Jones fought in February and won via controversial unanimous decision to Dominick Reyes. Critics felt that the result could have gone either way and now calls for a rematch are up in the air. In fact, UFC president Dana White seems to agree with the idea, believing Reyes does deserve a rematch, TMZ Sports mentioned in another report.

“I think he (deserves a rematch). You’d be crazy not to think he deserves a rematch,” White said.

Hence, it appears that Bader may have a long wait ahead of him. There is no word on when the rematch will take place and the coronavirus issue is expected to delay it longer. Jones said that the COVID-19 issue is bigger than sports and the UFC is unlikely to hold this in front of seat-less fans.