Anthony Johnson Calls Out Ryan Bader: ‘Let’s See Who The Real #1 Contender Is’

Anthony Johnson’s manager Glenn Robinson said recently that “Rumble” wanted the next crack at Ryan Bader, who is coming off a win over Rashad Evans Oct. 3 at UFC 192 as he sees that as a good fight for him. However, there’s one problem. Bader recently appeared on Submission Radio and stated that he’s not interested in a fight with Anthony Johnson.

“The whole thing with that, you know, some media ran with that,” Bader told Submission Radio. “He just tweeted something about ‘I never said anything about Bader or whatever, but I will take the fight.’ You know for me, I’m looking at fights that make sense right now. He had his shot. Let me get my shot. Gustafsson just had his shot. Who’s in front of me?”

Bader said that due to his five-fight win streak, he should get a title shot and not have to fight against someone else.

“I have a five-fight winning streak right now – the longest one in the UFC in their Light heavyweight [division] by far. So for me, these guys all got to get there shot, and you’re going to keep on recycling them? So I think I deserve it enough to go out there and fight Cormier. Why would I just take the fights just to take a fight?

Well, Johnson did not take kindly to those comments and has fired back. Johnson posted the following on Facebook:

Just read that Ryan Bader said he’s the number one contender. Well, imo, he isn’t by any means. How can a true athlete feel that he/she is the next best in line for a title shot when they haven’t fought anybody in the top 3 of rankings?

Have some pride! Don’t run or hide…

Let’s fight to see who’s the real number one contender.

I WANT TO FIGHT YOU RYAN BADER! I respect you and your abilities, but LET’S FIGHT AND SEE WHO’S THE REAL NUMBER ONE CONTENDER!

Are you up for the challenge? I’ll be waiting, Sir…

With Daniel Cormier stating that he doesn’t plan on fighting until 2016, it appears that a fight between Bader and Johnson may be happening.