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Ryan Bader might not be the largest competitor in the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, but he was the big man on campus on Friday.
The reigning light heavyweight champion made mincemeat out of “Meathead” in the main event of Bellator 207 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., winning a clear-cut unanimous decision over Matt Mitrione to advance to the grand prix finals where he will face either Fedor Emelianenko or Chael Sonnen.
If Mitrione had any issues with a career 205-pounder winning a heavyweight tournament, there wasn’t much he could say after that. But you can see what the pros had to say about Bader’s performance, as well as some thoughts on two of the more notable finishes on the main card: Mandel Nallo’s stunning knockout of Carrington Banks, and Corey Browning’s upset of Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr.
RYAN BADER DEF. MATT MITRIONE
.@AJMcKeeJr gives his prediction just seconds before @mattmitrione & @ryanbader step into the cage! #Bellator207 pic.twitter.com/sMu1eUENN5
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 13, 2018
Hoping Mitrione lands a hammer early in this human cockfight.. He sleeps in our office every once in a while.. Would be wild to have a Heavy Weight champ snoring on the couch.. Pullin hard for the meat head cuzzie.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 13, 2018
That was some impressive top control by Bader!! #bellator207
— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) October 13, 2018
Bader with some amazing ground control and wrestling
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) October 13, 2018
@ryanbader just got a 10-8 round. Should Finnish him this round
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) October 13, 2018
Dominant performance by our light heavyweight champion @RyanBader - we have our first #BellatorWGP finalist.
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 13, 2018
Congrats @ryanbader on a dominant win. Great time analyzing tonight’s fights with @THEREALPUNK & @JayGlazer for @BellatorMMA @paramountnet @DAZN_USA #Bellator207
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) October 13, 2018
Ryan "The 205lb Blanket" Bader @BellatorMMA
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) October 13, 2018
@ryanbader fuck the boo's do your thing boogie bear! Fight however you can win
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) October 13, 2018
COREY BROWNING DEF. KEVIN “BABY SLICE” FERGUSON JR.
This a good ass scrap lol @BellatorMMA
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) October 13, 2018
YOOOOO! Did @JohnMcCarthyMMA just call Baby Slice a "coward" because he ran out gas??? #Bellator207
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) October 13, 2018
No Mike, I said fatigue makes cowards out of all of us https://t.co/ajLBTQCBwo
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) October 13, 2018
And what we saw is an athlete that is absolutely in shape, but a weight cut took away is gas https://t.co/ajLBTQCBwo
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) October 13, 2018
A dumpster
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) October 13, 2018
Wow.RT @marc_raimondi: Baby Slice has his hands up over ahead and appears responsive. But he’s being carted out on a stretcher. #Bellator207
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) October 13, 2018
MANDEL NALLO DEF. CARRINGTON BANKS
Congratulations to my good friend and Tristar teammate Mandel Nallo for another very nice win tonight at Bellator 207!!! pic.twitter.com/zjyoWNtN6n
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) October 13, 2018
Big win tonight for @NoTweetMandel!!! 2nd round stoppage! https://t.co/hn6B49Uklv
— Firas Zahabi (@Firas_Zahabi) October 13, 2018
.@NoTweetMandel Nallo retains his perfect finish record with a nasty knee - now 7-0!
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 13, 2018
This belongs on Sportscenter's Top-10. https://t.co/UfRSldSbob
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 13, 2018
— Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) October 13, 2018
Yesssss @NoTweetMandel what a phenomenal KO! #bellator206
— éS (@EricSpicely) October 13, 2018
Like I said before... easily TOP 10 UFC level... we are not surprised @NoTweetMandel https://t.co/MYAV5xJjs6
— Nasrat Haqparast (@Nasrat_mma) October 13, 2018
I love that long+ high knee!! Damn @BellatorMMA
— David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) October 13, 2018
Damn tough loss for Banks. Brutal #Bellator207
— Matt Van Buren (@GutterMMA) October 13, 2018
Mandel is the FUTURE! #Bellator207 https://t.co/QkRSQTGlaO
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) October 13, 2018
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