“Would love to do some cross-promotion deal” – Ryan Bader open to fighting Jon Jones and unifying belts

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Saiyed Adeem Karim

Ryan Bader holds two titles at Bellator but wants a rematch against UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones

Former UFC star and current Bellator fighter Ryan Bader wants a rematch against Jon Jones.

Bader is unbeaten in his career at Bellator and holds the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight titles.

Jone Jones UFC 247
Jon Jones is one of the greatest in the history of the UFC (Getty)

The 36-year-old fought Jones in 2011 but lost to the current UFC Light Heavyweight champion.

Bader was speaking to TMZ Sports and was asked about Jones possibly being the greatest of all-time.

“I don’t think you can argue that he is not.”

Bader spoke about Jones’ unbeaten run and highlighted that his one loss was a DQ against Matt Hamill.

“He’s undefeated, he’s beat every body. I would love to get back. It’s 2011 when that happened, you know.”

Ryan Bader Jon Jones
Ryan Bader of the United States leaves the Octagon after losing by TKO to Anthony Johnson of the United States (not pictured) in the first round of their light heavyweight bout (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Bellator star further claimed that he had grown a lot over the years and was open to a deal:

“I have grown and changed so much from then, physically and mentally and we would love to do some sort of cross-promotion deal in the future.”

Unifying titles?

Bader highlighted that the two promotions would need to work out some deal to make the fight happen.

Alexander Gustafsson Jon Jones UFC 165 Hall of Fame
Jon Jones (top)punches Alexander Gustafsson of Sweden (bottom) during a Light Heavyweight titlebout (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

He added that he was happy with his promotion and wanted to do all he can for them:

“I am having an extremely great time at Bellator. They have been extremely good to me and I want to be good to them.

“So if we can make some sort of deal, anything, cross-promotion, exhibition, whatever it is. Unify, yeah, that’s the only way I see that happening.”

The champion also cut short any talk of him moving away from Bellator, and said it was the same situation with Jones too:

“I don’t see myself leaving and I don’t see him leaving UFC.”

Bader has been incredible since shifting to Bellator and it would be great if he got a shot at Jones again.

However, unifying the belts would be a huge decision between the two promotions.

Jones has an incredible 26 wins and one loss in his MMA career, and he recently defeated Dominick Reyes to retain his title.

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