UFC Quick Quote: Eric Schafer ready for a stress-free night against Ryan Bader

by Jesse Holland on Oct 16, 2009 11:08 AM EDT

Red Schafer

"I'm definitely more experienced than he is in striking. I've been training striking since '96; probably since he was in junior high school. This may be the first guy I might not be able to take down, so I might have to show (my striking) a lot more than you normally see it. Definitely my biggest edge is that he won the reality show but he's only had one UFC fight after that. So he's really 1-0 in the UFC. He's never been in there with a big name yet and never had those big fights, and I had to learn that myself. I'm working my striking a lot more and my defensive Jiu-Jitsu off my back. I'll let him decide where it goes. I'm working my wrestling a lot less offensively, because again, he's an All-American wrestler, so I don't want to waste all my energy trying to take him down. So it should be a lot more fun and a lot less stress."

-- Eric Schafer sounds off to BSN Online about his pending 205-pound battle against Ultimate Fighter (TUF) star Ryan Bader at UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 26. "Ravishing Red" has quietly strung together four straight wins after going belly up in back-to-back showings against Stephan Bonnar and Michael Bisping. Will he continue to rise through the ranks of light heavyweight? Or will he fall victim to another TUF champ at the hands of "Darth?"

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I hope Red can end this quickly otherwise it’ll probably be a long boring fight

by McArthur on Oct 16, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

It’s time to kill The Master Bader!

by PW on Oct 16, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, Mac, because we all know what a KO artist Red is…

;)

by OJR on Oct 16, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Red will win this fight, Bader’s lay n pray will not work with Schafer.

by Ron Konkoma on Oct 16, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Master Bader is 9-0 with 7 stoppages. We’ll see how he does as he steps up in competition, but at this point calling him a LnP guy just because he came from a wrestling background is unfair and inaccurate.

by PW on Oct 16, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I’m expecting to see a bader thrashing myself Bader has the tools to compete against the best the question does he have the skills and by what hear and read they have been improving greatly. Bader strength is with out a doubt his wrestling but i expect to see a little bit of a stand up and if Bader feels good in the octagon with his stand up he might keep it there longer than expected but I for sure expect to see a aggressive Bader once on the ground that will dominate Shafer.

by Puck Head on Oct 16, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

im throwing some money on Shaefer. He has great value as a HOT DOG!

Very underated fighter! Bader is good though and has a bright future. I just think Shaefer has some sick jits!

by john G on Oct 16, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Couldn’t agree more. Stylistically and also Bader is coming off of a long layoff and surgery.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 16, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I like lay n prey more when there is a finishing submision or ko/tko. CB dollaway should show Bader a few tricks, otherwise I will be asleep before end of 1st rd.

by Icantthinkofanything on Oct 16, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

UFC 104 is Oct 24, not 26th ;P

by TheMattKing on Oct 16, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

“I’ll let him decide where it goes.”?

That to me says he’s fighting to not lose, not fighting to win.

I root for Bader only because of his name… Master Bader… Darth Bader… c’mon, with a monicker like that how you can you root for the guy.

I also work with a guy named Red and Schafer kinda looks like a younger version of him.

by Morcheeba on Oct 16, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Nah, hes thinking smart. Why waste his energy trying to take down a superior wrestler, who is probably going to be much stronger then you? I dont think Bader is going to try to take this to the ground anyways. Red can fold under pressure, but when he is fresh, his jiu jitsu is a threat. If it goes past the first round, its Baders fight though.

by Big D on Oct 16, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m putting a lot of money down on Schafer. I gotta feeling he’s taking this one rather easily.

by jj on Oct 16, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Im sorry but you guys must be on crack thinking this guys gonna win! Really? bader by tko rd. 1

by MAC on Oct 16, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I say Schafer by triangle or armbar. Bader will take him down at some point in the fight.

by Wendell on Oct 16, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Another win or two and Schafer should be in contender status pretty soon.

by c-war on Oct 16, 2009 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

I dont know guys, Efrain KO’d miller and I htink we’re gonna see the same thing. BTW, I though TUF guys were supposed to get a few cans and build their rep? These new guys are getting throwing to the lions, Person vs Riley and Wilks vs Brown.. Tough first fight.

by BoBBy on Oct 16, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions