Ryan Bader talks ASU wrestling, TUF 8, his early UFC run, his role in The Smashing Machine—and why he thinks it didn’t land with a wider audience—and previews his December 31 fight for RIZIN.He walks through the grind that shaped him at Arizona State, the lessons (and chaos) of The Ultimate Fighter season 8, breaking into the UFC, and how all of it informs the way he’s preparing for New Year’s Eve in Japan.Topics we cover• Arizona State University: mindset, mentors, and the jump from folkstyle to MMA• The Ultimate Fighter 8: what the show gets right and what it doesn’t• Early UFC years: learning curves, key turning points, and staying relevant• The Smashing Machine: his role on the project and why it didn’t resonate broadly• RIZIN on Dec 31: what fans should expect on the NYE stageSubscribe for more long-form conversations with top fighters and coaches.#RyanBader #MMA #ASU #TUF #UFC #RIZIN #SmashingMachine