Bellator 205-pound champ Ryan Bader interested in heavyweight tournament

For Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, one of the promotion’s selling points is the chance to fight in multiple divisions.

Should he successfully defend his title at Bellator 186, Bader is eyeing a future move to heavyweight. He plans to volunteer for a tournament the Viacom-owned promotion is planning.

“I would definitely like to throw my hat in the ring with that and see where it goes,” Bader (23-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who on Friday faces Linton Vassell (18-5 MMA, 7-2 BMMA), told MMAjunkie. “That’s one thing that intrigued me about coming to Bellator was those different opportunities.

“First and foremost, I’m the light heavyweight champion, and I need to defend that belt. That’s happening on Friday, and from there, we’ll see what transpires.”

Bellator 186 takes place at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The main card, including the headlining Bader vs. Vassell fight, airs live on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Bellator President Scott Coker recently told MMAjunkie the promotion’s first priority is crowning a heavyweight champion, which he expects to do in the first quarter of 2018. The new champ faces plenty of top-tier opposition with several imports joining the big-man class within the past year.

Bader isn’t in a rush to move up, but one of his goals is to add another belt to his collection.

“I would love to be in that tournament and fight a couple of fights quickly, and if there is a belt at the end of that, that would be awesome to be a two-division champ and come back and defend my light heavyweight title,” he said.  “It’s one of those things where you’re looking in the future a little bit. I’ve got to go out and win this fight, and really just see what’s next with them. But I’m open to all that.”

If he were to try his luck in the big-man class, Bader said he would prefer to compete as a smaller heavyweight, fighting around 233 pounds, rather than trying to compete with the heavier players in the division.

“My body’s used to fighting at a certain weight, so I would pretty much just not cut weight and do a little extra strength training,” he said. “(I’d) make sure I’m strong and not muscled around by these bigger guys – be faster and use my cardio.”

So far, Bellator has yet to crown a multi-division champion; Joe Warren captured belts at bantamweight and featherweight, but was unable to hold on to both at the same time.

The promotion’s longtime tournament format didn’t facilitate the accomplishment, of course. But with Coker oriented toward tentpole events and superfights, the idea of a two-division champ might not be so far away.

For more on Bellator 186, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.