Bellator 256 results: Ryan Bader smashes Lyoto Machida, advances to grand prix semifinal

Ryan Bader is the first fighter to move on in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix.

Bader, the former 205-pound champion who currently holds the promotion’s heavyweight title, exacted a measure of revenge by defeating Lyoto Machida pn Friday in the Bellator 256 main event in Uncasville, Conn. Bader (27-6 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) dominated Machida (26-10 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) over five rounds to claim a unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 49-45 and 49-45.

Their rematch from a 2012 clash in the UFC was the first quarterfinal bout of the Bellator light heavyweight tournament. Bader will now take on the winner of Corey Anderson vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, which is set to go down next Friday at Bellator 257.

Bader put on one of the most dominant performances of his career to advance to the semifinal.

In the first round, both competitors didn’t take long to get warmed up. Bader and Machida remained active, trading leg kicks and testing each other on the feet. Machida’s kicks began to add up as he was targeting Bader’s body and legs. The most significant shot of the round was a left head kick that connected flush on Bader, who did well in closing the distance and pressuring Machida against the cage until the bell rang. Machida had the best exchanges of the round, but things would go down hill from there for the 42-year-old.

The second round started similar to the first with Machida staying on the outside and picking apart Bader with varied kicks. However, with about two minutes remaining, Bader changed the tune of the fight by taking down “The Dragon” and maintaining top control from turtle position while landing heavy ground-and-pound until the bell rang.

The fight was a one-sided beatdown after that. Bader repeatedly took down down Machida in the third, fourth and fifth. In all three rounds, Machida struggled to get up while taking significant damage from Bader’s heavy and continuous ground-and-pound.

With the win, Bader successfully bounced back from his TKO loss to Vadim Nemkov last August, which saw him lose his light heavyweight title. Bader is now 8-1 in his last nine bouts.

Meanwhile, Machida is now on a three-fight losing streak and 4-6 in his past 10.

Complete Bellator 256 results:

• Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) – advances to light heavyweight grand prix semifinal

• Liz Carmouche def. Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Adam Borics def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cat Zingano def. Olivia Parker via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:56
• Dan Moret def. Goiti Yamauchi via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

• Dalton Rosta def. Tony Johnson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Talita Nogueira def. Jessica Borga via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Jornel Lugo def. Cass Bell via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Cody Law def. Nathan Ghareeb via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jaylon Bates def. Jeffrey Glossner via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:27
• Nainoa Dung def. Izzy William via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Diana Avsaragova def. Tara Graff via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:29
• John Douma def. Will Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)