Ryan Bader's second Bellator light heavyweight title defense is set.
The two-division champion will meet Vadim Nemkov on May 9 in San Jose, the promotion announced Saturday.
Bader won the 205-pound belt in June 2017 with a split-decision win over Phil Davis but has defended it only once. In 2018, he entered the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix, which decided the new heavyweight titleholder.
Wins over Muhammed Lawal and Matt Mitrione punched Bader's ticket to the final, in which he finished heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko in 35 seconds to capture his second Bellator strap.
Bader defended the heavyweight title once - against Cheick Kongo in September - but the bout was ruled a no-contest due to an eye poke to the challenger. Bader is riding an eight-fight unbeaten streak.
Nemkov has won four straight fights in the promotion, most recently submitting former middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho in October. The Russian also holds notable wins over ex-champs Davis and Liam McGeary.
