Round 1
The two touch gloves and Bader takes the center of the octagon. Bader is stalking Schafer, landing a few big rights. Schafer is throwing a few shots which Bader fades back from, through never getting hit. Schafer comes in to strike and Bader lands some short shots in response. Schafer's chin is not tucked and his hands are a bit low, and Bader is taking advantage of the poor defense. Bader appears to be throwing fastballs at Schafer's head. The two face off against each other a bit with neither landing any big shots. Both appear pretty relaxed. Bader connects with a huge right hand that drops Schafer. Bader dives to the ground landing bomb after bomb. Schafer appears to be scrambling and defends some, but Bader continues to land huge shots. Schafer gets to his feet and Bader picks him up and drops him. The get to the feet again and Bader, continuing to land huge bombs the whole time, drops him again. Bader has Schafer's back and is landing powed shots. Schafer appears to be going for a kimura, but has no body control and Bader falls into Schafer's guard. The pace slows a bit with Schafer taking a moment to recover. Schafer goes for an omoplatta but Bader defends it, returning to open full guard. Bader stands up and Schafer remains on his back, where he stays to close the round.
Round 2
Bader starts the round stalking Schafer and the two stand in front of each other a bit. Schafer accidentally pokes Bader in the eye and referee Rosenthal stops time. Time is resumed and the two continue to strike, Bader appears to have slowed a bit but the striking appears very even. Schafer is now taking the center of the octagon, being a bit more aggressive than last round. The two are striking at a much slower pace than the first round. Schafer now seems to be the more aggressive striker, but is not landing anything definitive. Bader's striking seems to be slowing to a crawl and Schafer is able to easily dodge. Bader comes in for a shot and Schafer counter punches, landing some of the most significant shots of the round. Schafer definitely has been getting the better of the striking this round. With one minute left, Bader steps up the aggression a bit but is still not landing as much as Schafer. Schafer is now counter-piunching very effectively. Bader attampts a takedown with about 10 seconds left which Schafer stuffs. The round closes with Schafer trying to grip a guillotine.
Round 3
Bader appears very tired at the start of the third. Schafer is landing short jabs; Bader goes for a kick but it does no damage. Bader lands a huge right hand and he dives on Schafer to rain down strikes. Schafer grabs guard and nullifies Bader's offense. Schafer is trying to control Bader's arms, appearing to control distance for a submission. They break and stand up; referee Rosenthal pauses the fight for the doctor to look at a cut on Schafer. In the replay, it is shown that an unintentional headbutt opens a small cut on Schafer, no real threat and the fight continues. Bader appears to be swinging for the big knockout. Schafer lands his own big right, and the 2 continue to stand in front of each other. Schafer appears to look up at the clock on the big screen, but the striking has slowed significantly. Both are landing lazy strikes on each other and neither is doing much damage. Schafer tries for some shots and Bader drops for a takedown into side control. One of Bader's arms is trapped between Schafer's legs; het gets into full side control and holds there. Schafer is trying to get into half guard, but neither appears to be moving anywhere. Schafer pulls to full guard and attempts the omoplata as the bell rings.
Official Decision - Ryan Bader def. Eric Schafer by Unanimous Decision