Every surging talent in the fight game inevitably reaches a point where the time to show and prove comes front and center. For up-and-coming welterweight Ryan LaFlare, that moment will arrive this Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro.
Thus far in his six-year career as a mixed martial artist, the 31-year-old New York native has amassed a flawless record where he’s notched 11 victories without a single defeat. In addition to developing a knack for winning fights, LaFlare has also taken progressive steps toward bigger things as he’s won all four of his showings inside the Octagon.
Those elements combined to bring his next outing under the UFC banner to fruition where he will face former middleweight title challenger turned welterweight contender Demian Maia at Fight Night 62.
Where his bout against the jiu-jitsu ace is not only most notable of his career from a competition standpoint, a turn of events that saw the card’s original main event drop out pushed LaFlare into his first headlining slot on the sport’s biggest stage. Those conditions set the stakes even higher for what has the potential to be a pivotal juncture on LaFlare‘s push up the 170-pound ladder.
He recognizes both the opportunity and dangers squaring off with Maia will present. He knows the lively Brazilian fans will create a lively environment in Rio, but the Team Blackzilians representative is confident he’ll have what it takes to rise to the occasion on Saturday night.
“I’m ready to go out here and show the world what I’m all about,” LaFlare told Bleacher Report. “No one really knows me that well and this is my shot to really show everyone I’m here and I’m here to win. This is the perfect time for me to get a big fight like this. I’m more than ready, and everything is falling into place right where I want it to be.
“I’m used to it by now,” he added in regard to competing against a Brazilian in their home country. “I only have four fights in the UFC and I’m not a veteran, but all four of my fights were pretty much in enemy territories. I’ve been to Abu Dhabi, Sweden and Brazil before, and once that Octagon door locks, it’s just me and him in there.”
Where LaFlare has shown solid striking skills during his time competing inside the Octagon, his all-around game will certainly best tested against Maia. The 37-year-old Brazilian is widely considered to have one of the best pure jiu-jitsu games in MMA, and he’s built a solid career resume by applying that skill set to opponents who weren’t prepared to handle the dangers of his complex ground attack.
LaFlare has trained hard to ready himself for Maia’s biggest threat inside the cage, and he relied on his teammates in South Florida—namely multi-time world champion Gilbert Burns—to ensure his jiu-jitsu skills will be sharp once things go live at Fight Night 62.
“I’m training with some of the best grapplers in the world on a daily basis,” LaFlare said. “Luckily, Gilbert Burns is fighting on this card as well and we’ve been training a lot everyday. He’s the best training partner I could have as far as his jiu-jitsu skill level and I’m ready.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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