Ryan Bader is once again a free agent in the world of mixed martial arts.
The former Bellator heavyweight champion has amicably separated from the Professional Fighters League (PFL), despite still having one fight remaining on his contract. Bader`s last appearance with the promotion was in February 2024, where he faced Renan Ferreira and suffered a defeat. This bout turned out to be his sole fight under the PFL banner.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed this news. The initial report came from Ariel Helwani.
Following his fight with Ferreira in 2024, Bader ventured into acting, securing a supporting role alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the upcoming film The Smashing Machine. This movie is based on the life story of UFC and PRIDE veteran Mark Kerr.
After completing filming, Bader mentioned he still had one fight left on his PFL contract but was uncertain about his return to the cage. Now, with his departure from PFL, Bader is a free agent, leaving open the question of where he will compete next.
Bader shared a statement on social media regarding his exit from PFL.
“Officially a free agent,” Bader stated. “PFL and our team reached mutually agreeable terms, even with one fight left on my contract. My time with Bellator was incredible. It was a fantastic experience, surrounded by great people running the organization. I am still considering various opportunities in the fight industry. The Smashing Machine movie is coming out soon, making this an exciting year. Many thanks to Mike Kogan for always treating fighters with respect, which is rare in this business, and to Scott Coker and the rest of the Bellator team for the great times. And of course, David Martin for leading the way.”
Over recent years, Bader successfully transitioned to heavyweight, achieving a 6-1 record with one no-contest in eight fights. His only defeat during this period was against Ferreira, but he secured victories against notable fighters like Cheick Kongo, Valentin Moldavsky, and PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko.
Bader also has a significant history in the light heavyweight division, where he competed for most of his UFC career. However, Bader has previously indicated he has no intention of dropping back down to 205 pounds, suggesting he will remain in the heavyweight division for the foreseeable future.
His next destination is currently unknown, but Bader is now free to sign with any MMA promotion after being released from his PFL contract.
