Who Will win The Ultimate Fighter Finale Team Nog vs Team Mir?
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Ryan Bader looking to make a statement during TUF finale
Ryan Bader is on the verge of mixed martial arts greatness as he prepares himself for the most significant bout of his young fighting career. A win in “The Ultimate Fighter” finale virtually guarantees long term success in the sport and Bader will have his chance when he faces off with jiu-jitsu phenom Vinny Magalhaes on Saturday, December 13th at The Pearl at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas.
Bader joins the growing influx of top level collegiate wrestlers that have invaded the sport of mixed martial arts in recent years. The 24-year old light heavyweight had over 120 victories while wrestling for Arizona State University. He went on to become a three time PAC 10 Champion and two time NCAA Division I All-American.
The Tempe, Arizona native has made the transition from pure wrestling to MMA look easy since joining up with one of the sports top gyms, Arizona Combat Sports in 2007. Carving a path of destruction at 205 pounds since jumping head first into the sport, Bader has gone undefeated in his career and fought six times in 2007 alone. He is known for his powerful slams, suffocating wrestling, punishing ground and pound and has shown impressive boxing in many of his fights.
The man that is affectionately known as “Darth” Bader will be presented with some unique challenges when he steps into the octagon with Magalhaes to find out who is this seasons “Ultimate Fighter” at 205 pounds. Magalhaes is one of the most decorated submission grapplers that has ever stepped onto a mat. The 23-year old native of Rio De Janeiro holds world championships at the Pan American Games, the Brazilian Nationals, and the American Nationals, among others.
Bader spoke exclusively with FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently about being on the brink of this huge opportunity in his career, how he matches up with Magalhaes and what the future holds for him in the UFC at 205.
Cory Brady: Would you say your overall experience on the show was a good one or were you just dying to get out of there towards the end?
Ryan Bader: Yes, I would say it was a great experience. There was times when all you wanted to do was just get out of there but focusing on my goals helped a ton. There was good times and bad times in the house just as if you were at home. Overall I had fun and would do it again.
Cory Brady: What have you been up to since the show wrapped up?
Ryan Bader: Just training full-time. I took some time off right after the show and went away for a couple weeks. I came back and got right back in the gym. I just enjoyed being free and able to do whatever I wanted to do. That was huge to me after being cooped up in the house for so long. So not too much, just enjoying everyday life and training.
Cory Brady: Are you still living with C.B. Dollaway?
Ryan Bader: Yep, we still live together. We get along and have a lot of fun. We lead a similar life, with the same career and what not so it is easy to get along. Its also nice having somebody that knows what you are going through when you are going through a training camp. A lot of people don’t realize the work, dedication and sacrifices it takes. So some friends cant understand why I cant go out with them Saturday night, or why I am so “grumpy.” So we usually find ways to take our mind off of the fight and have fun without sacrificing what we are working towards.
Cory Brady: How are you feeling physically in the days leading up to the biggest fight of your career?
Ryan Bader: I feel great! I am in awesome shape right now and I feel I have gotten a lot better and have grown as a fighter. I am really looking forward to getting back in the cage. It has been too long!
Cory Brady: How confident do you feel going into your fight with Vinny?
Ryan Bader: I feel very confident. I am in great shape. My skill set is up and I am hungry for this win. I am very excited to get in there and mix it up with him.
Cory Brady: How do you feel you match up with Vinny?
Ryan Bader: I feel that I match up very well with him. He is amazing on the ground, but with my wrestling I feel that I can dictate where the fight takes place. I feel that I am better on my feet and that I am a lot more mentally tough, and if it goes to the later rounds I will have a definite advantage.
Cory Brady: Have you traveled anywhere to prepare for this one or have you stayed at home with Arizona Combat Sports for the most part?
Ryan Bader: I have stayed at Arizona Combat Sports with an exception of one week at Nogueira’s gym in Miami. It is nice to be around your training partners and your own trainers who know how you are progressing, how your body works, and what you need and don’t need to work on for the upcoming fight.
Cory Brady: Who are some of the key people that have helped you prepare for this fight?
Ryan Bader: The Lally brothers, Gustavo Dantes. These people are my main trainers and have helped me tremendously. Also my training partners, C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson, Jesse Forbes, Steinbeiss brothers, Jacob McClintock and many many more. I couldn’t do it alone and they are always there pushing me and making sure that I am where I need to be.
Cory Brady: Who have you been training your submission game with?
Ryan Bader: I have been doing my Jiu Jitsu with Gustavo Dantes and Jacob McClintock. Gustavo is a stud world champion and Jacob has a similar style as Vinny with a lot of rubber guard, flying armbars, etc. I also roll and work out with as many high level grapplers as I can.
Cory Brady: You will definitely have the advantage in the wrestling department. Will you be confident in utilizing your ground and pound against against a guy like Vinny?
Ryan Bader: Yes, I am not afraid of being on top of Vinny. He has some slick submissions but I am not going to fight him like I fought Eliot. I will be punishing him so he never even gets the chance to play his game.
Cory Brady: Do you feel you have the superior stand up game?
Ryan Bader: Yes I do and it is evolving everyday. We are both not stand up studs by any means but I definitely have more power. I have been working hard and will be bringing a lot more into this fight. I feel like I have yet to show my true stand up skills in a fight and am looking forward to doing that.
Cory Brady: Will you be looking to make a statement in this fight?
Ryan Bader: Most definitely, I will be looking to make a big statement. I had a lackluster fight with Eliot and am looking to get that back. A nice KO would be perfect!
Cory Brady: How do you visualize this one ending?
Ryan Bader: Me the victor. I am going in this fight to finish it so it would be great any way I can achieve that.
Cory Brady: How excited are you to test yourself in UFC’s stacked 205 pound division?
Ryan Bader: Very excited. I am a competitor and want to test myself and there is no better place than the UFC especially at 205.
Cory Brady: What does the future hold for Ryan Bader in the UFC?
Ryan Bader: The future will hold success. I am looking to have a long successful career and one day be the champ. That is my ultimate goal, if it wasn’t I don’t know why I would be in this sport. I want to be the best at what I do.
Cory Brady: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Ryan Bader: I would like to thank my camp Arizona Combat Sport and the Lally brothers first off. All my training partners that have helped me get to where I am today. Also Jason Genet with LG Sports Marketing. Also check out www.ryanbader.com.
Ryan Bader is on the verge of mixed martial arts greatness as he prepares himself for the most significant bout of his young fighting career. A win in “The Ultimate Fighter” finale virtually guarantees long term success in the sport and Bader will have his chance when he faces off with jiu-jitsu phenom Vinny Magalhaes on Saturday, December 13th at The Pearl at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas.
Bader joins the growing influx of top level collegiate wrestlers that have invaded the sport of mixed martial arts in recent years. The 24-year old light heavyweight had over 120 victories while wrestling for Arizona State University. He went on to become a three time PAC 10 Champion and two time NCAA Division I All-American.
The Tempe, Arizona native has made the transition from pure wrestling to MMA look easy since joining up with one of the sports top gyms, Arizona Combat Sports in 2007. Carving a path of destruction at 205 pounds since jumping head first into the sport, Bader has gone undefeated in his career and fought six times in 2007 alone. He is known for his powerful slams, suffocating wrestling, punishing ground and pound and has shown impressive boxing in many of his fights.
The man that is affectionately known as “Darth” Bader will be presented with some unique challenges when he steps into the octagon with Magalhaes to find out who is this seasons “Ultimate Fighter” at 205 pounds. Magalhaes is one of the most decorated submission grapplers that has ever stepped onto a mat. The 23-year old native of Rio De Janeiro holds world championships at the Pan American Games, the Brazilian Nationals, and the American Nationals, among others.
Bader spoke exclusively with FiveOuncesOfPain.com recently about being on the brink of this huge opportunity in his career, how he matches up with Magalhaes and what the future holds for him in the UFC at 205.
Cory Brady: Would you say your overall experience on the show was a good one or were you just dying to get out of there towards the end?
Ryan Bader: Yes, I would say it was a great experience. There was times when all you wanted to do was just get out of there but focusing on my goals helped a ton. There was good times and bad times in the house just as if you were at home. Overall I had fun and would do it again.
Cory Brady: What have you been up to since the show wrapped up?
Ryan Bader: Just training full-time. I took some time off right after the show and went away for a couple weeks. I came back and got right back in the gym. I just enjoyed being free and able to do whatever I wanted to do. That was huge to me after being cooped up in the house for so long. So not too much, just enjoying everyday life and training.
Cory Brady: Are you still living with C.B. Dollaway?
Ryan Bader: Yep, we still live together. We get along and have a lot of fun. We lead a similar life, with the same career and what not so it is easy to get along. Its also nice having somebody that knows what you are going through when you are going through a training camp. A lot of people don’t realize the work, dedication and sacrifices it takes. So some friends cant understand why I cant go out with them Saturday night, or why I am so “grumpy.” So we usually find ways to take our mind off of the fight and have fun without sacrificing what we are working towards.
Cory Brady: How are you feeling physically in the days leading up to the biggest fight of your career?
Ryan Bader: I feel great! I am in awesome shape right now and I feel I have gotten a lot better and have grown as a fighter. I am really looking forward to getting back in the cage. It has been too long!
Cory Brady: How confident do you feel going into your fight with Vinny?
Ryan Bader: I feel very confident. I am in great shape. My skill set is up and I am hungry for this win. I am very excited to get in there and mix it up with him.
Cory Brady: How do you feel you match up with Vinny?
Ryan Bader: I feel that I match up very well with him. He is amazing on the ground, but with my wrestling I feel that I can dictate where the fight takes place. I feel that I am better on my feet and that I am a lot more mentally tough, and if it goes to the later rounds I will have a definite advantage.
Cory Brady: Have you traveled anywhere to prepare for this one or have you stayed at home with Arizona Combat Sports for the most part?
Ryan Bader: I have stayed at Arizona Combat Sports with an exception of one week at Nogueira’s gym in Miami. It is nice to be around your training partners and your own trainers who know how you are progressing, how your body works, and what you need and don’t need to work on for the upcoming fight.
Cory Brady: Who are some of the key people that have helped you prepare for this fight?
Ryan Bader: The Lally brothers, Gustavo Dantes. These people are my main trainers and have helped me tremendously. Also my training partners, C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson, Jesse Forbes, Steinbeiss brothers, Jacob McClintock and many many more. I couldn’t do it alone and they are always there pushing me and making sure that I am where I need to be.
Cory Brady: Who have you been training your submission game with?
Ryan Bader: I have been doing my Jiu Jitsu with Gustavo Dantes and Jacob McClintock. Gustavo is a stud world champion and Jacob has a similar style as Vinny with a lot of rubber guard, flying armbars, etc. I also roll and work out with as many high level grapplers as I can.
Cory Brady: You will definitely have the advantage in the wrestling department. Will you be confident in utilizing your ground and pound against against a guy like Vinny?
Ryan Bader: Yes, I am not afraid of being on top of Vinny. He has some slick submissions but I am not going to fight him like I fought Eliot. I will be punishing him so he never even gets the chance to play his game.
Cory Brady: Do you feel you have the superior stand up game?
Ryan Bader: Yes I do and it is evolving everyday. We are both not stand up studs by any means but I definitely have more power. I have been working hard and will be bringing a lot more into this fight. I feel like I have yet to show my true stand up skills in a fight and am looking forward to doing that.
Cory Brady: Will you be looking to make a statement in this fight?
Ryan Bader: Most definitely, I will be looking to make a big statement. I had a lackluster fight with Eliot and am looking to get that back. A nice KO would be perfect!
Cory Brady: How do you visualize this one ending?
Ryan Bader: Me the victor. I am going in this fight to finish it so it would be great any way I can achieve that.
Cory Brady: How excited are you to test yourself in UFC’s stacked 205 pound division?
Ryan Bader: Very excited. I am a competitor and want to test myself and there is no better place than the UFC especially at 205.
Cory Brady: What does the future hold for Ryan Bader in the UFC?
Ryan Bader: The future will hold success. I am looking to have a long successful career and one day be the champ. That is my ultimate goal, if it wasn’t I don’t know why I would be in this sport. I want to be the best at what I do.
Cory Brady: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Ryan Bader: I would like to thank my camp Arizona Combat Sport and the Lally brothers first off. All my training partners that have helped me get to where I am today. Also Jason Genet with LG Sports Marketing. Also check out www.ryanbader.com.
Phillipe Nover surpassing all expectations en route to "TUF" finale
If you didn't have high expectations for UFC lightweight and "World's Toughest Nurse" Phillipe Nover (5-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), don't worry. Neither did he.
Just a week away from fighting Efrain Escudero for a shot at winning a UFC contract as the lightweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir," Nover told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) his run to the finals has been beyond his own wildest expectations.
"It's like my dreams came true," Nover said. "A year ago I never even thought I could get in to the finale. I would say, 'I'd do pretty well if I got on the show. And if I got on to the show, that would be great.' And here I am even further.
"My dream has blown up. It's just a euphoric feeling. It's crazy."
Nover would eventually wow viewers with his crisp striking and ferocious attitude. But America's first impression of the 24-year-old was formed when he fainted in the season's first episode.
"I did feel weak already coming off the plane," Nover said. "It was a lot of pressure, and I had never fought at 155 (pounds) before. So when I got down to that weight, it was a lot of stress. (UFC President) Dana White walked in the room and was like, 'Hey, you're going to fight in 48 hours.' Everything just hit me."
As quick with his mind as he has been with crisp strikes, Nover used the folly to his advantage.
"I played the weak role for a while," Nover said. "When Joe Duarte saw me, I was real passive and quiet. I didn't say much about myself. He even went up to me before the fight and asked about what my skills were. I don't know if that was intelligent of him because obviously I'm not going to tell him the truth.
"But I played that weak role. And after they saw how tough I was, and the other 155 (pounders) started to fear me, from then on it just started a domino effect."
That domino effect netted Nover some of the highest praise ever uttered by White -- including comparisons to Anderson Silva and a young Georges St. Pierre.
"I never had those things said to me directly," Nover said. "I actually heard that (White said he) found the next Anderson Silva for a couple weeks while he was promoting the show, and I was like, 'Is he talking about me?' And then all the great things he said about me on the last episode -- when he said that I'm possibly one of the most-talented fighters ever to get on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' that's a big, bold statement."
Despite the high praise, Nover said he wouldn't allow the elevated expectations to cause any added pressure.
"It's big shoes to fill, and I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing," Nover said. "I come out to fight, and I fight hard. If the audience enjoys it and Dana enjoys it, I'm glad. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm not going to change just because of what he said."
Nover credits his early career success to his tight relationship with his camp at Team Insight in Brooklyn, N.Y.
"I have such a solid team," Nover said. "It's more like a family, my team. I've been with Ralph Mitchell, my teacher, since age nine. No other coach could say that about their fighters. He knows my ins and outs, my weaknesses, everything about me.
"I do respect the other camps. I do think (coach Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira's camp is something that I possibly could go and just train a couple weekends or a week. But I'm not going to war without my corner. Even getting on the show and fighting without my teammates and cornermen was very, very weird. I had to mentally put them there.
"I respect all the other camps, but I want to put my camp up on the map now."
Escudero is the only thing standing between Nover's spot in the UFC, and Team Insight's place in the MMA landscape.
"I think Efrain is a great guy as a person and a fighter," Nover said. "He's well-rounded, and there is a reason why he is in the finale fighting against me. It's because he's really good. I take him seriously. But I hope the outcome is going to be a first-round win for myself.
"I think he's not going to last the first round for me. It could be a submission or a KO. He's definitely going to feel my power."
Nover has high hopes for his performance at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale. But having already exceeded his own expectations, Nover is content regardless of the bout's outcome.
"Every day that goes by is cherished," Nover said. "Whatever happens next week is going to happen.
"Anything can happen. I really predict myself winning this fight. And God forbid it doesn't come out in my favor, I'm still going to look at this as the most positive experience in my life."
If you didn't have high expectations for UFC lightweight and "World's Toughest Nurse" Phillipe Nover (5-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), don't worry. Neither did he.
Just a week away from fighting Efrain Escudero for a shot at winning a UFC contract as the lightweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir," Nover told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) his run to the finals has been beyond his own wildest expectations.
"It's like my dreams came true," Nover said. "A year ago I never even thought I could get in to the finale. I would say, 'I'd do pretty well if I got on the show. And if I got on to the show, that would be great.' And here I am even further.
"My dream has blown up. It's just a euphoric feeling. It's crazy."
Nover would eventually wow viewers with his crisp striking and ferocious attitude. But America's first impression of the 24-year-old was formed when he fainted in the season's first episode.
"I did feel weak already coming off the plane," Nover said. "It was a lot of pressure, and I had never fought at 155 (pounds) before. So when I got down to that weight, it was a lot of stress. (UFC President) Dana White walked in the room and was like, 'Hey, you're going to fight in 48 hours.' Everything just hit me."
As quick with his mind as he has been with crisp strikes, Nover used the folly to his advantage.
"I played the weak role for a while," Nover said. "When Joe Duarte saw me, I was real passive and quiet. I didn't say much about myself. He even went up to me before the fight and asked about what my skills were. I don't know if that was intelligent of him because obviously I'm not going to tell him the truth.
"But I played that weak role. And after they saw how tough I was, and the other 155 (pounders) started to fear me, from then on it just started a domino effect."
That domino effect netted Nover some of the highest praise ever uttered by White -- including comparisons to Anderson Silva and a young Georges St. Pierre.
"I never had those things said to me directly," Nover said. "I actually heard that (White said he) found the next Anderson Silva for a couple weeks while he was promoting the show, and I was like, 'Is he talking about me?' And then all the great things he said about me on the last episode -- when he said that I'm possibly one of the most-talented fighters ever to get on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' that's a big, bold statement."
Despite the high praise, Nover said he wouldn't allow the elevated expectations to cause any added pressure.
"It's big shoes to fill, and I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing," Nover said. "I come out to fight, and I fight hard. If the audience enjoys it and Dana enjoys it, I'm glad. I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm not going to change just because of what he said."
Nover credits his early career success to his tight relationship with his camp at Team Insight in Brooklyn, N.Y.
"I have such a solid team," Nover said. "It's more like a family, my team. I've been with Ralph Mitchell, my teacher, since age nine. No other coach could say that about their fighters. He knows my ins and outs, my weaknesses, everything about me.
"I do respect the other camps. I do think (coach Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira's camp is something that I possibly could go and just train a couple weekends or a week. But I'm not going to war without my corner. Even getting on the show and fighting without my teammates and cornermen was very, very weird. I had to mentally put them there.
"I respect all the other camps, but I want to put my camp up on the map now."
Escudero is the only thing standing between Nover's spot in the UFC, and Team Insight's place in the MMA landscape.
"I think Efrain is a great guy as a person and a fighter," Nover said. "He's well-rounded, and there is a reason why he is in the finale fighting against me. It's because he's really good. I take him seriously. But I hope the outcome is going to be a first-round win for myself.
"I think he's not going to last the first round for me. It could be a submission or a KO. He's definitely going to feel my power."
Nover has high hopes for his performance at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale. But having already exceeded his own expectations, Nover is content regardless of the bout's outcome.
"Every day that goes by is cherished," Nover said. "Whatever happens next week is going to happen.
"Anything can happen. I really predict myself winning this fight. And God forbid it doesn't come out in my favor, I'm still going to look at this as the most positive experience in my life."
UFC Quick Quote: Vinny Magalhaes will knockout Ryan Bader at Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale
“On the ground in my wins, it took 19-25 seconds before I got the submission. I don’t think Bader can just hold me down for 15 minutes…. The last fight I had was six months ago. I’m not just jiu-jitsu. I think he sees it that he’s the better striker and he’ll try and keep it on his feet. That may have been the case during the show. But I’m not the same fighter. I’ve been training my boxing a lot and I think I’ll win by knockout. Bader thinks he can outstrike me, but he can’t.”
“On the ground in my wins, it took 19-25 seconds before I got the submission. I don’t think Bader can just hold me down for 15 minutes…. The last fight I had was six months ago. I’m not just jiu-jitsu. I think he sees it that he’s the better striker and he’ll try and keep it on his feet. That may have been the case during the show. But I’m not the same fighter. I’ve been training my boxing a lot and I think I’ll win by knockout. Bader thinks he can outstrike me, but he can’t.”
This.
Nover by early TKO, Vinny by gogo haha. I would love to see Bader knock him out though, but I'd be surprised if he didn't try to lay n pray and Vinny will take it easily if that's the case. I really want to see how Nover is going to look in the spotlight, if he gets a win like the ones he had on the show I think the UFC's really going to push him to get any filipino fans that Vera might've lost interested again.
And lol at Vinny thinking he has good standup, he was awful on the show and I doubt he could improve as much as he needs in 6 months.
Nover by early TKO, Vinny by gogo haha. I would love to see Bader knock him out though, but I'd be surprised if he didn't try to lay n pray and Vinny will take it easily if that's the case. I really want to see how Nover is going to look in the spotlight, if he gets a win like the ones he had on the show I think the UFC's really going to push him to get any filipino fans that Vera might've lost interested again.
And lol at Vinny thinking he has good standup, he was awful on the show and I doubt he could improve as much as he needs in 6 months.
i picced vinny. he needs to work on his standup, but when he tightens that up, hes gonna be a force to be recconed with in the future. i don't like him, how he disrespected nog by sayin his jiu jitsu is "basic", but i feel mir kinda baited him into sayin that. but he does have a hella good ground game. fold.
The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale Betting Lines Released
Main Card
* Phillipe Nover -355 vs. Efrain Escudero +285
* Ryan Bader +150 vs. Vinicius Magalhaes -130
* Kevin Burns +200 vs. Anthony Johnson -250
* Wilson Gouveia -130 at vs. Jason MacDonald +105
* Junie Browning -370 vs. Dave Kaplan +300
Preliminary Card
* Krzysztof Soszynski -325 vs. Shane Primm +265
* Eliot Marshall -565 vs. Jules Bruchez +415
* Kyle Kingsbury -125 vs Tom Lawlor -105
* Shane Nelson -105 vs. George Roop -125
* Rolando Delgado -110 vs. John Polakowski -120
Main Card
* Phillipe Nover -355 vs. Efrain Escudero +285
* Ryan Bader +150 vs. Vinicius Magalhaes -130
* Kevin Burns +200 vs. Anthony Johnson -250
* Wilson Gouveia -130 at vs. Jason MacDonald +105
* Junie Browning -370 vs. Dave Kaplan +300
Preliminary Card
* Krzysztof Soszynski -325 vs. Shane Primm +265
* Eliot Marshall -565 vs. Jules Bruchez +415
* Kyle Kingsbury -125 vs Tom Lawlor -105
* Shane Nelson -105 vs. George Roop -125
* Rolando Delgado -110 vs. John Polakowski -120
Bader, Magalhaes Vie for TUF Stardom
“The Ultimate Fighter” reality series has made mixed martial arts stars out of many of its alumni, from UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin to UK poster boy Michael Bisping. Ryan Bader and Vinicius Magalhaes hope to be next in line to climb the ladder of success.
Bader (7-0) and Magalhaes (2-2) each won three fights on season eight and will meet in the light heavyweight final at “The Ultimate Fighter 8” Finale on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“My first goal is to become ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’” Bader says. “I have to win [Saturday] before I can think about what I want to do next. I just want to keep chipping away and move my way up through the ranks. I don’t settle for mediocrity. I want to be the best at what I do.”
A four-time gold medalist at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championships, the 24-year-old Magalhaes planned to be in this position, one win away from a six-figure contract with the UFC.
“When I went to the show, I was expecting to be in the finals,” he says. “Not that I didn’t respect anybody, but I [don’t] go to any competition just to be another competitor. I always go to win.”
Bader, a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State, believes his time on “The Ultimate Fighter” made him a more complete fighter. Training daily under UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was one of the perks.
“I learned so much while I was doing the show,” Bader says. “[Nogueira] has such a great work ethic and really trains like a professional. I really improved my jiu-jitsu game working with [Nogueira] and [assistant coach] Daniel Valverde. They tailored what they taught me to my style of fighting, and I picked up some good submissions. I also learned some good things about elbows and knees in the muay Thai clinch when [UFC middleweight champion] Anderson Silva was there.”
Trevor Lally -- who trains Bader at Arizona Combat Sports in Tempe, Ariz. -- says Bader’s improvement came not only in his skill set but in the mental side of the game.
“The biggest difference in Ryan now is his overall confidence,” Lally says. “I’m not sure if it’s because of who he fought when he was on the show or who he trained with, but you can see he’s more confident now. I’ve had several fighters be on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and come back worse off than when they left, but Ryan’s better now, and he’s a lot more confident.”
Bader admits living in “The Ultimate Fighter” house was a unique experience and says the show’s producers did a good job of presenting events as they happened.
“Nobody was really edited badly when the shows came on TV,” he says. “They edited some little things, but everything that happened really went on. Everything was real. When I first got there, I knew I had to be prepared to fight. Once I won to get on the show, I relaxed a little bit, and the first couple of days in the house were exciting.”
Boredom, however, soon set in.
“After the first week, everybody’s already told all the stories they have, and you’ve heard everybody else’s stories,” Bader says. “You’ve gone and sat in the hot tub and played all the basketball you want. That’s when things start to get crazy. You just have to try and focus on your goals and keep your sanity. You definitely have to keep your wits about you.”
Bader’s road to the final started with an arm-triangle submission of Kyle Kingsbury. He then knocked out Tom Lawlor in the quarter-finals and earned a unanimous decision over 28-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Eliot Marshall in the semis.
“My toughest fight was [the semi-final against Marshall],” Bader says. “I knew he was a threat if the fight went to the ground, and the timing of the fight was bad. It was right at the end of the taping, and everybody just wanted to get out of there. My focus wasn’t all there, and I felt like I gave a lackluster effort.”
Bader faces a tough test in Magalhaes, a Brazilian who coaxed a tapout from the season’s most experienced cast member, Krzysztof Soszynski, in the semi-finals.
“Everybody was predicting Krzysztof to be in the finals against Ryan Bader,” says Magalhaes, who also submitted Jules Bruchez en route to the final.
Keeping his identity as one of the 205-pound finalists secret presented a challenge all its own.
“If they asked if I was fighting [on] the finale card, I said, ‘Who knows? Maybe nobody’s going to fight,’” Magalhaes says. “It was kind of hard just to keep to myself. Some guys are even annoying, saying, ‘Who [are] you going to fight on the card? Are you going to be on the main card? Are you going to be on the undercard?’ [They] just assumed I lost the fight [to Soszynski].”
Even though Magalhaes has just four professional fights to his credit, Bader knows he will have his hands full once the cage door closes behind him.
“I watched Vinny and Krzysztof closely while we were in the house,” Bader says. “I felt both of them had the potential to be where I wanted to be. Vinny has a slick ground game, and I’ll have to be careful of his submission skills, but I’ve got a wrestling background.”
The unbeaten Bader sees holes in Magalhaes’ still-developing game.
“One of Vinny’s weaknesses is his stand-up, and I think I’ll have an edge if we stay on our feet,” he says. “Also, I think I have the edge in mental toughness. I’ve got more experience, and I feel like I had the tougher fights to get to the finals.”
Magalhaes hopes Bader tests his stand-up skills.
“If he tries to stand up for 15 minutes, we’re gonna stand up for 15 minutes,” he says. “I’ve been working on my strikes for the last six months, and Bader’s not a striker, so I don’t know why he has that big of an advantage on his feet. I think as soon as I start to beat him up, he’s going to become a wrestler, and he’s gonna try and take me down. And once he takes me down, he’s gonna be on my game.”
Lally sees Saturday’s showdown as a clash of styles Bader is more than capable of winning.
“A fight is a fight,” Lally says. “Sometimes, when things get tough, people go back to what they know best. Maybe when the heat is on, Ryan will take him down. Who knows? I do know one thing, though. Vinny is going to have to fight Ryan. My guy’s battle-tested. Ryan fought guys on the show who relied on jiu-jitsu, and he won. These two guys will try to impose their will on each other, and I think my guy will win that fight.”
“The Ultimate Fighter” reality series has made mixed martial arts stars out of many of its alumni, from UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin to UK poster boy Michael Bisping. Ryan Bader and Vinicius Magalhaes hope to be next in line to climb the ladder of success.
Bader (7-0) and Magalhaes (2-2) each won three fights on season eight and will meet in the light heavyweight final at “The Ultimate Fighter 8” Finale on Saturday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
“My first goal is to become ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’” Bader says. “I have to win [Saturday] before I can think about what I want to do next. I just want to keep chipping away and move my way up through the ranks. I don’t settle for mediocrity. I want to be the best at what I do.”
A four-time gold medalist at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championships, the 24-year-old Magalhaes planned to be in this position, one win away from a six-figure contract with the UFC.
“When I went to the show, I was expecting to be in the finals,” he says. “Not that I didn’t respect anybody, but I [don’t] go to any competition just to be another competitor. I always go to win.”
Bader, a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State, believes his time on “The Ultimate Fighter” made him a more complete fighter. Training daily under UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was one of the perks.
“I learned so much while I was doing the show,” Bader says. “[Nogueira] has such a great work ethic and really trains like a professional. I really improved my jiu-jitsu game working with [Nogueira] and [assistant coach] Daniel Valverde. They tailored what they taught me to my style of fighting, and I picked up some good submissions. I also learned some good things about elbows and knees in the muay Thai clinch when [UFC middleweight champion] Anderson Silva was there.”
Trevor Lally -- who trains Bader at Arizona Combat Sports in Tempe, Ariz. -- says Bader’s improvement came not only in his skill set but in the mental side of the game.
“The biggest difference in Ryan now is his overall confidence,” Lally says. “I’m not sure if it’s because of who he fought when he was on the show or who he trained with, but you can see he’s more confident now. I’ve had several fighters be on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and come back worse off than when they left, but Ryan’s better now, and he’s a lot more confident.”
Bader admits living in “The Ultimate Fighter” house was a unique experience and says the show’s producers did a good job of presenting events as they happened.
“Nobody was really edited badly when the shows came on TV,” he says. “They edited some little things, but everything that happened really went on. Everything was real. When I first got there, I knew I had to be prepared to fight. Once I won to get on the show, I relaxed a little bit, and the first couple of days in the house were exciting.”
Boredom, however, soon set in.
“After the first week, everybody’s already told all the stories they have, and you’ve heard everybody else’s stories,” Bader says. “You’ve gone and sat in the hot tub and played all the basketball you want. That’s when things start to get crazy. You just have to try and focus on your goals and keep your sanity. You definitely have to keep your wits about you.”
Bader’s road to the final started with an arm-triangle submission of Kyle Kingsbury. He then knocked out Tom Lawlor in the quarter-finals and earned a unanimous decision over 28-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Eliot Marshall in the semis.
“My toughest fight was [the semi-final against Marshall],” Bader says. “I knew he was a threat if the fight went to the ground, and the timing of the fight was bad. It was right at the end of the taping, and everybody just wanted to get out of there. My focus wasn’t all there, and I felt like I gave a lackluster effort.”
Bader faces a tough test in Magalhaes, a Brazilian who coaxed a tapout from the season’s most experienced cast member, Krzysztof Soszynski, in the semi-finals.
“Everybody was predicting Krzysztof to be in the finals against Ryan Bader,” says Magalhaes, who also submitted Jules Bruchez en route to the final.
Keeping his identity as one of the 205-pound finalists secret presented a challenge all its own.
“If they asked if I was fighting [on] the finale card, I said, ‘Who knows? Maybe nobody’s going to fight,’” Magalhaes says. “It was kind of hard just to keep to myself. Some guys are even annoying, saying, ‘Who [are] you going to fight on the card? Are you going to be on the main card? Are you going to be on the undercard?’ [They] just assumed I lost the fight [to Soszynski].”
Even though Magalhaes has just four professional fights to his credit, Bader knows he will have his hands full once the cage door closes behind him.
“I watched Vinny and Krzysztof closely while we were in the house,” Bader says. “I felt both of them had the potential to be where I wanted to be. Vinny has a slick ground game, and I’ll have to be careful of his submission skills, but I’ve got a wrestling background.”
The unbeaten Bader sees holes in Magalhaes’ still-developing game.
“One of Vinny’s weaknesses is his stand-up, and I think I’ll have an edge if we stay on our feet,” he says. “Also, I think I have the edge in mental toughness. I’ve got more experience, and I feel like I had the tougher fights to get to the finals.”
Magalhaes hopes Bader tests his stand-up skills.
“If he tries to stand up for 15 minutes, we’re gonna stand up for 15 minutes,” he says. “I’ve been working on my strikes for the last six months, and Bader’s not a striker, so I don’t know why he has that big of an advantage on his feet. I think as soon as I start to beat him up, he’s going to become a wrestler, and he’s gonna try and take me down. And once he takes me down, he’s gonna be on my game.”
Lally sees Saturday’s showdown as a clash of styles Bader is more than capable of winning.
“A fight is a fight,” Lally says. “Sometimes, when things get tough, people go back to what they know best. Maybe when the heat is on, Ryan will take him down. Who knows? I do know one thing, though. Vinny is going to have to fight Ryan. My guy’s battle-tested. Ryan fought guys on the show who relied on jiu-jitsu, and he won. These two guys will try to impose their will on each other, and I think my guy will win that fight.”
Phillipe Nover to channel Pacquaio, impress Filipinos at "TUF" finale
One week after boxer Manny Pacquaio dismantled Oscar de la Hoya and brought joy to Filipino fans around the world, "The Ultimate Fighter 8" lightweight finalist and Filipino-American Phillipe Nover hopes to keep the nation's combat-sports streak intact with a win this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
"I'm so proud of Manny Pacquaio," Nover recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He's the man. He's always been the man, and he just put himself even higher than anyone. He really showed himself to the world.
"I hope I can make the Filipinos proud just like Manny did. That's my objective."
Nover was a bright spot in this season's edition of "The Ultimate Fighter." The New York resident earned high praises from UFC President Dana White as well as the coaching staff of Team Nogueira.
While the situation was a positive one for Nover, he still echoed the sentiments of many past "TUF" competitors when describing the difficulties of living in the fighter house for six weeks.
"I guess it was kind of torturous," Nover said.
While most fighters say it is the lack of TV, reading materials and outside entertainment that causes the difficulty of the "TUF" experience, for Nover it was the lack of contact with his family that presented the biggest challenge.
"The only thing torturous about it I would say was the separation and the contact between the outside world and yourself, especially with family members and my girlfriend," Nover said. "My mother and father, I couldn't even call them. I didn't even know if they were alright. That was really a big obstacle.
"Other than that, living in a frat house -- it was kind of like a frat house -- that wasn't such a big problem. I don't really care abut the TV and the magazines and stuff like that. I just really needed some contact with my family and my teammates."
With that experience behind him, Nover now has his sights fully set on his teammate from the show, Efrain Escudero. Nover believes the fact that the two trained together extensively during the taping of the show will make the stressful situation a bit more comfortable.
"It kind of breaks up the butterflies a little," Nover said. "He knows me well. We were both good friends on the show from the start. We were on the same team. We cooked together. We hung out together. We talked about each others' girlfriends, about our home life."
Nover showed skills on the ground and from the feet -- as well as a ferocious attitude -- during his tenure on "The Ultimate Fighter." And though the former nurse will be looking to bring further joy to the Filipino people with a win over Escudero in Saturday night's finale, Nover is honored to face his friend.
"The guy's a respectable guy," Nover said. "He's an honorable fighter. I'm really happy that I'll be fighting him. It's an honor to fight him. He's a warrior just like I am. I'm glad that he made it to the finale."
One week after boxer Manny Pacquaio dismantled Oscar de la Hoya and brought joy to Filipino fans around the world, "The Ultimate Fighter 8" lightweight finalist and Filipino-American Phillipe Nover hopes to keep the nation's combat-sports streak intact with a win this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
"I'm so proud of Manny Pacquaio," Nover recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He's the man. He's always been the man, and he just put himself even higher than anyone. He really showed himself to the world.
"I hope I can make the Filipinos proud just like Manny did. That's my objective."
Nover was a bright spot in this season's edition of "The Ultimate Fighter." The New York resident earned high praises from UFC President Dana White as well as the coaching staff of Team Nogueira.
While the situation was a positive one for Nover, he still echoed the sentiments of many past "TUF" competitors when describing the difficulties of living in the fighter house for six weeks.
"I guess it was kind of torturous," Nover said.
While most fighters say it is the lack of TV, reading materials and outside entertainment that causes the difficulty of the "TUF" experience, for Nover it was the lack of contact with his family that presented the biggest challenge.
"The only thing torturous about it I would say was the separation and the contact between the outside world and yourself, especially with family members and my girlfriend," Nover said. "My mother and father, I couldn't even call them. I didn't even know if they were alright. That was really a big obstacle.
"Other than that, living in a frat house -- it was kind of like a frat house -- that wasn't such a big problem. I don't really care abut the TV and the magazines and stuff like that. I just really needed some contact with my family and my teammates."
With that experience behind him, Nover now has his sights fully set on his teammate from the show, Efrain Escudero. Nover believes the fact that the two trained together extensively during the taping of the show will make the stressful situation a bit more comfortable.
"It kind of breaks up the butterflies a little," Nover said. "He knows me well. We were both good friends on the show from the start. We were on the same team. We cooked together. We hung out together. We talked about each others' girlfriends, about our home life."
Nover showed skills on the ground and from the feet -- as well as a ferocious attitude -- during his tenure on "The Ultimate Fighter." And though the former nurse will be looking to bring further joy to the Filipino people with a win over Escudero in Saturday night's finale, Nover is honored to face his friend.
"The guy's a respectable guy," Nover said. "He's an honorable fighter. I'm really happy that I'll be fighting him. It's an honor to fight him. He's a warrior just like I am. I'm glad that he made it to the finale."
RYAN BADER: ONE MORE ROAD TO CROSS TO TITLE
Six weeks in the Ultimate Fighter house. Wins over Kyle Kingsbury, Tom Lawlor and Eliot Marshall. Tainted fruit, a cling wrapped bed, and Junie Browning. But after all that, the ends justify the means as Ryan Bader gets his chance to close out "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 this Saturday night as he faces Vinny Magalhaes in the finals of the light heavyweight division.
With only one obstacle left in front of him, Bader is excited about the chance to be the latest addition to the TUF champions list, but he knows that his focus has still has to ultimately fall on his opponent first.
"You've got to focus on the fight and, obviously, I kind of went through it and I see myself as that champion, the TUF champion, and going through the fight and what I'm going to do," Bader told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "But you've got to go in there and do it first."
One objective that Bader has taken upon himself to do in the upcoming fight is prove that his win over Eliot Marshall to get into the finals wasn't his best performance. He's happy that he gets to compete with that bout still burned in the fans' minds.
"I'm glad I get to fight a week after that fight aired," Bader commented. "I got off the show and I told some people that one fight wasn't my best fight for sure and I hadn't even seen the fight. I just knew in the back of my head. You're in the fight, you don't remember a lot of what's happening, but I knew it was going to be one of these boring fights, so I'm glad I get the fight (at the finale) a week later."
Standing across from Bader on Saturday night will be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Vinny Magalhaes, who pulled off two quick submissions in his last two fights to make it to the finale. The former All-American wrestler is well aware of his opponent's considerable ground skills and what he has to do to avoid the submission.
"He pulls guard pretty well, so you never know if it's going to go down to the ground. So you know I've been working on my sub defense. One thing about Vinny is he's very, very good on the ground, so I can't sit there like I did (against Marshall)," Bader said. "I've got to be hitting him in the face constantly or getting out of there. But you never know, I get down there I might feel fine."
Looking back on The Ultimate Fighter experience, Bader says if he had it to do all over again he probably would. But the TUF 8 journey isn't over yet, and Ryan Bader still has one more road to cross on Saturday night.
Six weeks in the Ultimate Fighter house. Wins over Kyle Kingsbury, Tom Lawlor and Eliot Marshall. Tainted fruit, a cling wrapped bed, and Junie Browning. But after all that, the ends justify the means as Ryan Bader gets his chance to close out "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 this Saturday night as he faces Vinny Magalhaes in the finals of the light heavyweight division.
With only one obstacle left in front of him, Bader is excited about the chance to be the latest addition to the TUF champions list, but he knows that his focus has still has to ultimately fall on his opponent first.
"You've got to focus on the fight and, obviously, I kind of went through it and I see myself as that champion, the TUF champion, and going through the fight and what I'm going to do," Bader told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "But you've got to go in there and do it first."
One objective that Bader has taken upon himself to do in the upcoming fight is prove that his win over Eliot Marshall to get into the finals wasn't his best performance. He's happy that he gets to compete with that bout still burned in the fans' minds.
"I'm glad I get to fight a week after that fight aired," Bader commented. "I got off the show and I told some people that one fight wasn't my best fight for sure and I hadn't even seen the fight. I just knew in the back of my head. You're in the fight, you don't remember a lot of what's happening, but I knew it was going to be one of these boring fights, so I'm glad I get the fight (at the finale) a week later."
Standing across from Bader on Saturday night will be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Vinny Magalhaes, who pulled off two quick submissions in his last two fights to make it to the finale. The former All-American wrestler is well aware of his opponent's considerable ground skills and what he has to do to avoid the submission.
"He pulls guard pretty well, so you never know if it's going to go down to the ground. So you know I've been working on my sub defense. One thing about Vinny is he's very, very good on the ground, so I can't sit there like I did (against Marshall)," Bader said. "I've got to be hitting him in the face constantly or getting out of there. But you never know, I get down there I might feel fine."
Looking back on The Ultimate Fighter experience, Bader says if he had it to do all over again he probably would. But the TUF 8 journey isn't over yet, and Ryan Bader still has one more road to cross on Saturday night.
Efrain Escudero prepared for first of several tough tests
With one day left before his shot at a UFC contract, "The Ultimate Fighter 8" lightweight finalist Efrain Escudero is surprisingly calm before the biggest test of his life.
But as Escudero recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), his Saturday night fight with Phillipe Nover at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale in Las Vegas isn't the only test he's preparing for.
"As soon as my fight's over I have to go back and hit the books Sunday and start studying again," Escudero said. "I've got mid-terms coming up."
Escudero entered this season's filming of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a full-time student. And while his success on the show has raised Escudero's expectations in MMA, the criminal justice major wasn't about to give up his studies.
"Fighting is all good and all -- I love it and I want it to be my career for a while," Escudero said. "But I still have to keep those grades."
While several of the show's participants have relocated to bigger camps or quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to training, Escudero returned home to the same routine to which he was already accustomed.
"I train in the morning and then I go to school in the evening," Escudero said. "Then at night I come and train. We can't fight forever, so I want to finish my education. It was kind of hard and kind of hectic because I have finals coming up, but all I have to do is manage my time wisely."
But don't take Escudero's dedication to his education as a lack of focus on his MMA career. The Mexican-born fighter knows the strengths that Nover brings to the cage, and Escudero believes his Team Nogueira training partner will provide a stern test.
"I saw Phillipe train," Escudero said. "I know his weaknesses and strengths. But that just makes both of us better fighters because now we each know what each other's got. Now we have to work harder to be superior on that aspect of our game.
"I expect a good fight (and) a high pace from Phillipe. I expect a war."
If Escudero's calm demeanor seem surprising considering the opportunity that is just one day away, understand that it is a carefully designed strategy.
"I'm kind of excited," Escudero said. "I'm not really nervous.
"I usually have this thing where I can get nervous and punched in the face or I can be relaxed and get punched in the face. Either way I'm going to get punched in the face, so I'm pretty relaxed."
While the 22-year-old knows the high praise his opponent has already received, Escudero firmly believes his hand will be raised after the bout.
"It doesn't matter that they're saying [Nover] might be the next Anderson Silva and such," Escudero said. "He might be at one point of the game, but it ain't going to be on Saturday night. When Saturday night comes, it's my time to shine. I am going to go out there and put it all out on the line."
With one day left before his shot at a UFC contract, "The Ultimate Fighter 8" lightweight finalist Efrain Escudero is surprisingly calm before the biggest test of his life.
But as Escudero recently told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), his Saturday night fight with Phillipe Nover at "The Ultimate Fighter" finale in Las Vegas isn't the only test he's preparing for.
"As soon as my fight's over I have to go back and hit the books Sunday and start studying again," Escudero said. "I've got mid-terms coming up."
Escudero entered this season's filming of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a full-time student. And while his success on the show has raised Escudero's expectations in MMA, the criminal justice major wasn't about to give up his studies.
"Fighting is all good and all -- I love it and I want it to be my career for a while," Escudero said. "But I still have to keep those grades."
While several of the show's participants have relocated to bigger camps or quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to training, Escudero returned home to the same routine to which he was already accustomed.
"I train in the morning and then I go to school in the evening," Escudero said. "Then at night I come and train. We can't fight forever, so I want to finish my education. It was kind of hard and kind of hectic because I have finals coming up, but all I have to do is manage my time wisely."
But don't take Escudero's dedication to his education as a lack of focus on his MMA career. The Mexican-born fighter knows the strengths that Nover brings to the cage, and Escudero believes his Team Nogueira training partner will provide a stern test.
"I saw Phillipe train," Escudero said. "I know his weaknesses and strengths. But that just makes both of us better fighters because now we each know what each other's got. Now we have to work harder to be superior on that aspect of our game.
"I expect a good fight (and) a high pace from Phillipe. I expect a war."
If Escudero's calm demeanor seem surprising considering the opportunity that is just one day away, understand that it is a carefully designed strategy.
"I'm kind of excited," Escudero said. "I'm not really nervous.
"I usually have this thing where I can get nervous and punched in the face or I can be relaxed and get punched in the face. Either way I'm going to get punched in the face, so I'm pretty relaxed."
While the 22-year-old knows the high praise his opponent has already received, Escudero firmly believes his hand will be raised after the bout.
"It doesn't matter that they're saying [Nover] might be the next Anderson Silva and such," Escudero said. "He might be at one point of the game, but it ain't going to be on Saturday night. When Saturday night comes, it's my time to shine. I am going to go out there and put it all out on the line."
