LOS ANGELES – Ryan Bader has fought a lot of top names. Still, even as he beat former UFC champions on his way up the light heavyweight ranks, there was one guy that he thought he “would never have even a chance to be standing across the cage with.”

That just so happens to be the same guy that Bader (26-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) is meeting on Saturday at Bellator 214, in an attempt to become the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion.

Fighting Fedor Emelianenko (38-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) is a big deal for Bader. Yes, he is aware that he is about to go up against one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, but after getting past his, “I’m fighting Fedor in a week-and-a-half” sinking-in moment, the current Bellator 205-pound champ is now all business.

“If this was 10 fights, 20 fights earlier in my career, (being starstruck) would be the case, I would be sitting there like, ‘Holy (expletive), I’m standing across from Fedor and he’s about to try to take my head off,’” Bader told reporters, including MMAjunkie, during Bellator 214 open workouts at Viacom headquarters in Hollywood. “But now, I’ve been in there with those top guys. Stood across from big greats in MMA. And I don’t feel that anymore, I just feel like he’s the Fedor of today. The Fedor of Jan. 26 is getting into the cage and that’s it. He can’t bring any of his past accomplishments, neither can I. It’s kind of (let) the better man win on that day.”

Bellator 214 takes place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The event airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMAjunkie.

The “perfect storm” that got Bader in this unforeseen spot began in July 2017. In a promotional debut that already featured a title on the line, Bader took the 205-pound belt from fellow UFC alum and ex-foe Phil Davis and defended it once, against Linton Vassell, before entering Bellator’s heavyweight tournament.

Bader, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, needed just 15 seconds to knock out Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the grand prix opening round. He then earned a dominant unanimous decision over Matt Mitrione to secure his spot in the finals of the eight-man tournament. Meanwhile, Emelianenko scored first-round knockout wins over Frank Mir and Chael Sonnen in his road to the finals.

Talk about a cherry on top.

“No disrespect to Chael, but it wouldn’t be as sweet if it was two 205ers in the finals,” Bader said. “I wanted a true heavyweight. Not only that, it’s one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. And to go out there and be able to compete for the heavyweight belt against a man like that? It’s a dream right now.”

Listing Emelianenko as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time is something most can agree with. But, after a trio of losses that spoiled an epic 31-fight run, and a recent knockout loss to Mitrione under the Bellator banner, some wonder what the 42-year-old fighter still has to offer.

Bader, on his end, was left with questions due to the quickness in which Emelianenko’s two previous bouts ended. But that’s not necessarily something that counts against his opponent.

“I would like to see more from this tournament, from him,” Bader said. “I wanted to see a second round with Chael. I wanted to see more in the first round with Frank. And that kind of adds to that mystique. I hear all kinds of stuff about Fedor, ‘Oh, he’s out of his prime, he’s this and that,’ but man, look at his last fights.

“He’s a super dangerous fighter, especially in that first round, he’s coming out like a buzzsaw. And I have to make him do that, too. I’ve got to make him go out there and use up all that energy and get that out. Man, this is one of the biggest fights of my career and he’s one of the most dangerous opponents I’ve had.”

It’s been said that the greatest risks bring the greatest rewards, though. And, in Bader’s case, the rewards are plentiful.

Becoming the winner of Bellator’s heavyweight tournament would be a solid accomplishment in itself, made more impressive by the fact Bader is coming from the lower division. And, of course, being Bellator’s heavyweight champion is not too shabby of a claim, either.

But to be a simultaneous two-division champion – the first of its kind in the promotion? That’s special.

“It’s a big feat; it’s a big accomplishment,” Bader said. “To be a two-division champ, let alone in these big weights, where it takes one punch. It takes one punch anyway, but still – that’s why we don’t see heavyweights hold the belt for a long time. So it’s a huge accomplishment, I think it kind of goes under the radar, a little bit. But my team and I know what it’s all about.

“And, like I was saying earlier, to do it against somebody like Fedor. I actually feel like I’d be one of the best pound-for-pound guys out there. I just have to go out there and prove it. I’m 11-1 in my last 12 fights. I hit my stride. I’m here, mentally, more. I’ve always been there physically, but I have it up here. It’s just perfect timing.”

To hear from Bader, check out the video above.

And for more on Bellator 214, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.