"The Real Deal" Ryan Ford (white trunks) is the newest addition to Bellator's welterweight division. (Photo courtesy of Charles Penner and Combat Captured)
Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) and The Fight Club (TFC) veteran “The Real Deal” Ryan Ford (15-3) has officially signed with Bellator Fighting Championships. The Canadian-born welterweight made his name under the MFC banner as well as fellow Canadian promotion The Fight Club where he currently holds the 170lbs. championship title.
Ford is mostly remembered for his war with fellow welterweight scrapper and The Ultimate Fighter alum “The Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt (21-19) as well as his aggressive go-for-broke style. With 14 finishes and one decision in his four-year career it’s easy to see why “The Real Deal” is adored in his home land of Canada. Along with making his Bellator debut, his new flagship promotion will bring Ford stateside for the first time, as he has yet to fight outside of the Great White North.
“The Real Deal” steps into the Bellator cage on a four-fight winning streak with his most recent loss coming by the hands of current MFC Welterweight Champion and fellow Season 5 tournament fighter Douglas Lima (16-4) in September 2010. Due to his late arrival, Ford will not be competing in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament, though he may act as a replacement should one of its competitors be injured. Ford is currently slated to partake in special attraction bouts under the Bellator banner.
