Ryan Bader vs. Cheick Kongo is anything but official. Ryan Bader is Bellator’s first two-division champion. Although Joe Warren won titles in two different weight classes in Bellator, Ryan Bader is the first-ever fighter to do it simultaneously. He is Bellator’s light heavyweight and heavyweight champion.
Bellator president Scott Coker has said he’ll give Bader leeway when it comes to his title defenses. It appears “Darth” is taking advantage as he took to Instagram to announce his next fight will be a heavyweight title defense:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxN78ChAKh1/?utm_source=ig_embed
“Getting spoiled at heavyweight not having to do this and drop 20lbs week of fight every time. Defending the heavyweight title next, looking like August let’s go!”
Ariel Helwani is reporting the same :
Bellator is leaning towards keeping Ryan Bader at heavyweight for his next fight, sources say. Current plan is having him defend the heavyweight title in late summer/early fall against Cheick Kongo, who recently won a no. 1 contender fight against Vitaly Minakov.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 9, 2019
“Bellator is leaning towards keeping Ryan Bader at heavyweight for his next fight, sources say. Current plan is having him defend the heavyweight title in late summer/early fall against Cheick Kongo, who recently won a no. 1 contender fight against Vitaly Minakov.”