It took nearly nine years for Ryan Bader to get his revenge on Lyoto Machida but he did so with a unanimous decision win in the main event of Bellator 256.
Machida had knocked Bader out back in 2012 when the two fought under the UFC banner.
This bout was a quarterfinal matchup in Bellator's ongoing Light-Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Bader remains the reigning Bellator heavyweight champion but he lost the light-heavyweight title to Vadim Nemkov last August.
Nemkov is set to defend his title in a grand prix quarterfinal matchup against former champ Phil Davis at Bellator 257; Corey Anderson takes on Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov on the same card. The final opening-round matchup is set to take place May 7 when Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Yoel Romero make their organizational debuts at Bellator 258.
“There’s redemption this whole tournament,” Bader said. “I got one back on Machida but I’ve lost to Nemkov and I’ve lost to Anthony Johnson, so I would like to meet one of them in the finals. But honestly, to make it to the finals and fight for the belt, I’d be happy with whoever it is.”
Below are the complete Bellator 256 results.
MAIN CARD
-- Ryan Bader def. Lyoto Machida by unanimous decision
-- Liz Carmouche def. Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision
-- Adam Borics def. Jeremy Kennedy by unanimous decision
-- Cat Zingano def. Olivia Parker by submission (armbar)
-- Dan Moret def. Goiti Yamauchi by split decision
PRELIMINARY CARD
-- Dalton Rosta def. Tony Johnson by unanimous decision
-- Talita Nogueira def. Jessica Borga by unanimous decision
-- Jornel Lugo def. Cass Bell by unanimous decision
-- Cody Law def. Nathan Ghareeb by unanimous decision
-- Jaylon Bates def. Jeffrey Glossner by submission (guillotine)
-- Nainoa Dung def. Izzy William by unanimous decision
-- Diana Avsaragova def. Tara Graff by knockout
-- John Douma def. Will Smith by split decision
