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Ryan Bader Says Rematch With Phil Davis Will Be Better Than The First

May 9, 2017 | Posted by Joseph Lee

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Ryan Bader (22-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) said that his rematch with Phil Davis (17-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) at Bellator 180 will be better than their first fight at UFC on FOX 14 in January 2015. It happens on June 24 at Madison Square Garden and airs on Spike TV. Here are highlights:

On what went wrong in the first fight: “I felt kind of flat in that first fight. Whether it was fighting at 3 a.m. or whatever – you walk away from fights knowing, ‘I felt good’ or knowing you just didn’t have it. It was one of those fights. But I feel like I’ve grown tremendously in my stand-up, my ground game and everywhere, really. My mental game is just so far beyond where I was then also. I think that’s going to carry some weight in this new fight. I think I’ve progressed more than he has. He still doesn’t like to get hit. He throws a lot of kicks because he likes to use distance and doesn’t want to be in that hand fighting range. If you get him frustrated, he gets more gun shy and what not. I just feel like I’ve grown, and I’m going to go in there and make a statement and go finish him and win the belt while doing it.”

On fighting in a rematch: “I’ve only had one other rematch in my life, and it was against Nogueira in my last fight, so here’s another one. I learn quickly as far as being in there with somebody. I’ve been in there with Phil Davis, I know what to expect. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better since our last fight, and I’ve grown more than he has. I’m looking forward to going in there and making a statement. Not just winning the belt, but making a statement at the same time.”

article topics :

Ryan Bader, Joseph Lee