Ryan Bader

The UFC isn’t the only one who will unify the heavyweight titles in 2022.

Bellator MMA has the same match on the horizon.

Ryan Bader and Valentin Moldavsky will meet on January 29 at Bellator 273 in Phoenix, Arizona. The event takes place from the Footprint Center live on Showtime.

Bader, the reigning champion, lost his light heavyweight title in 2020 to Vadim Nemkov. He was a two-division champion at that time. 

Since, “Darth” has gone 1-1 with a win over Lyoto Machida and a setback to Corey Anderson in the light heavyweight grand prix.

Bader claimed the heavyweight title by running through the grand prix in 2018 and 2019. He scored finishes over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Fedor Emelianenko around a decision win vs. Matt Mitrione. 

Moldavsky became a champion for the first time when he topped Timothy Johnson at Bellator 261 last June. That win stretched his run to six consecutive victories. 

The last time Moldavsky lost was in the Rizin openweight grand prix semifinals in 2016 before he joined Bellator. Since, he has topped the likes of Linton Vassell, Javy Ayala and Roy Nelson. 

Along with the title fight, Benson Henderson returns to meet Islam Mamedov, Henry Corrales faces Aiden Lee and Sabah Homasi battles Jaleel Willis. 

The UFC will unify the heavyweight title a week prior when Francis Ngannou collides with Ciryl Gane. 

 

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