Ryan (The Real Deal) Ford knows he made the biggest mistake of his mixed martial arts career against Pat Healy at MFC 17 when he tried to slam Healy
while in an arm-bar.
It resulted in his first loss of his MMA career, but the way Ford sees it, it was just one small blip.
Now he gets an opportunity to earn a shot at the MFC welterweight title he
lost his grasp on to Healy if he beats UFC veteran LaVerne Clark in tonight's co-main event on MFC 18: Famous at the River Cree Resort and Casino.

"I was in the gym the next day, focusing on getting ready (for this fight)," said Ford. "I want to be a world champion, and in order to do that, you have to fight big name guys, there is no point in me fighting local guys from here. I need to fight the veterans of the sport.

"It's (the loss) made me a better fighter, it's made me a better person inside. It's like life - you learn from your mistakes."

The Edmonton native will once again have the hometown crowd behind him when he faces Clark. He learned from his loss against Healy and has been taught different tactics if he runs into another similar situation.
"I got caught, he was an experienced fighter, and I know it's just not going to happen again. Now when I guy puts me in an arm-bar, I have a few different ways to get out of it," said Ford.

"In MMA, you never know what's going to happen. I beat him (Healy) for three
rounds and he was an experienced fighter with a lot of heart and he took a
beating, but he kept going with that submission." Clark holds a 30-16 career record and is 4-1 in the UFC.

"I feel pretty confident, but I am not looking at it like he took a loss and that he's going to win because of that," said Clark, whose fiancee gave birth to their first child earlier this month.

"I've done everything I could for this fight. I am not taking anything from Ryan Ford, but I have rededicated myself and he just happens to be the person I am up against right now."