PLOT
Bellator 186: Bader vs. Vassell took place on November 3, 2017, at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pennsylvania. The event aired live in prime time on Spike TV. In the Bellator 186 main event Ryan Bader made the first defense of his Light Heavyweight title against Linton Vassell. The co-main event featured Ilima-Lei Macfarlane against Emily Ducote for the inaugural Bellator Women's Flyweight title.