• UFC 126

Bader plans to grab a beer and watch Silva beat Belfort

ESPN staff
February 1, 2011
Anderson Silva has ruled the middleweight terrain since 2006 © Getty Images
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Ryan Bader has backed Anderson Silva to overcome the significant challenge of Vitor Belfort in UFC 126's main event.

Bader fights Jon Jones on the same card in Las Vegas, hoping to secure the victory that would confirm him as a serious title contender. And if all goes right for Bader, he will get the job done early so that he can watch the night's showpiece encounter.

Silva v Belfort sees two of the sport's great names share the same Octagon, with the prize of the UFC middleweight title at stake. Bader was recently seen in his supporter guise at UFC 120, when he watched the likes of Dan Hardy and Michael Bisping in London, and he admits he will attempt to get back out into the crowd to watch the all-Brazilian showdown.

"As long as I don't need stitches I'll be wanting to get back out there and grab a beer and watch the rest of the fights," Bader told ESPN. "I'm actually on a really huge card and as a fighter and a fan I'd love to watch the rest of the card."

The middleweight crown has not changed hands since October 2006, when Silva destroyed Rich Franklin, and Bader admits he cannot see past The Spider for an eighth successful title defence.

"I can't really go against Anderson Silva, although Belfort does have the knockout power to end the fight. But I'll go with Silva."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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