Bader vs. Vassell, Phil Davis, Ed Ruth Set for Bellator 186 at Penn State University

Bellator MMA’s trip to the Penn State University campus will be headlined by a light heavyweight title clash between Ryan Bader and Linton Vassell.

The California-based promotion confirmed the pairing with Sherdog.com on Thursday following an initial report from PennLive. Penn State alums Phil Davis and Ed Ruth are also expected to compete on the card, which will be entitled Bellator 186, but do not yet have opponents.

Bellator 186 will take place at the Bryce Jordan Center on Nov. 3 and air on Spike. The Bryce Jordan Center seats more than 15,000 and is home to the Penn State men’s and women’s basketball teams.

"We only do eight of these shows per year, so our production is going to be big," Bellator President Scott Coker told PennLive. "The lighting is going to be big, the sound is going to be big, and we are going to have a great mixed martial arts event.”

Bader, a longtime UFC talent, claimed the Bellator light heavyweight strap with a five-round verdict over Davis at Bellator 180 on June 24, his eighth win in nine appearances. Vassell has won four of his last five promotional appearances, including a third-round submission of Liam McGeary at Bellator 179 on May 19.