It's baffling how a fighter like Ryan Bader is seemingly overlooked by a sport that pits world-class yappers against topnotch champions.
In a perfect world, Bader should've fought for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship after beating Phil Davis last January. He swallowed the bitter pill, as the company picked Alexander Gustafsson, fresh from a knockout loss, to challenge for the belt.
Fast forward to October of 2015, when - once again - Bader won over another highly ranked light heavyweight in the person of Rashad Evans, but is still on the outside looking in of a title shot because of the apparent return of one Jon Jones.
"For me, it looks like I've got to beat all these guys in the top five to get a shot," he said.
Now, Ryan Bader looks to get past his final hurdle to the championship, as he faces Anthony "Rumble" Johnson to headline UFC on FOX 18 on January 30, 2016.
"For me, having a big main event on FOX and fighting Anthony Johnson and he's ranked No. 1 and that's where we want to be," Bader claimed. "Obviously, I wanted a title shot but that's not happening. The next big thing is this fight."
Of course, the former Arizona State University wrestler is done depending on the UFC matchmakers' logic and looks to take the proverbial bull by the horn.
"Obviously, I want it and that's my goal to win the title but I'm done thinking about it," he shared. "I thought about it the last couple of fights and all last year and it hasn't happened yet so now it's just about beating the next guy in front of me and that's Anthony Johnson."
Bader continued: "I have no idea if I'm getting the next title match. They might do a rematch, they might do Jones vs. Gustafsson 2, so who knows for me. From my perspective, I go out there and beat Anthony Johnson I'll literally go through the whole top ten and for me that's validation right there."
In hindsight, Ryan Bader is at an extreme crossroad where a loss would mean he has to go back to square one. But if that's what it takes or is the only path toward the UFC title, one can assume it's a risk he'd gladly conquer.
"It would be that much sweeter to go through all these guys and say 'look at my resume,'" he stated. "Look at my last five fights. From Ovince St. Preux through Anthony Johnson, that's the way I'll look at it."
The Ultimate Fighter winner concluded: "When it actually does happen and I do win the title, look at what I did and who I went through to get there. I didn't get a title shot off a loss. I didn't get thrown in that because that's what they wanted. I literally went through the entire top 10."