Bellator Champion Ryan Bader Assesses How Jon Jones Rematch Would Play Out: 'It Would Definitely Be A Different Fight...'

During an appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Bader recently assessed how he would fare in a second dance opposite Jones inside the cage.

"I think it would definitely be a different fight," Bader said. "Jones has proven himself over and over again. I feel like he's the best fighter in the world. But my mentality, now [compared to] what it was back then, basically a kid new to this sport, it'd definitely be a different fight for sure.

"Who knows the outcome? But that would be a fun one. I got to run a few back in various rematches. I'm undefeated in rematches, and that would be one of the fights you could go in and see how far you've grown."

After defeating Bader at UFC 126, Jones became the UFC light heavyweight champion the next month. That set off a decade of dominance that saw Jones hold the UFC gold at light heavyweight for the majority of the 2010s.

After vacating the light heavyweight title and embarking on a three-year hiatus, "Bones" successfully moved up to heavyweight at UFC 285 last year, defeating Ciryl Gane for the then-vacant UFC title.

Jones has never had the greatest praise for Bader, but the Bellator champ feels Jones would eat those words in a potential rematch.

And while the UFC would most likely never go with the idea of a cross-promotion fight, Bader feels a clash between the UFC and Bellator heavyweight champions would be a big deal for MMA.

"[The fans] always talk about how'd this guy do if he went over to the UFC, or a UFC [champ] fought a Bellator champ," Bader said. "They're fun fights. I wish we could do that every once in a couple of years. We are doing that with PFL and Bellator, but I wish it would happen more often."

Bader is scheduled to face 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira in the main event of the PFL vs. Bellator card on February 24.