Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford stays focus through it all, and it's been a long time coming.

Despite thousands of screaming fans, loud music blaring and blinding lights, when he enters the MFC ring and he's looking across at his opponent all he can think about is to hurt them, make them bleed, and drive his fist through his opponent's head. For Ryan MMA is not just a sport it's a fight, a fight for life. When Ford enters the ring he has the feeling that his opponent is trying to take food away from him and his family and most importantly it's his last fighting chance and he has worked so hard to get where he is today.

His feelings are intense, his life flashes in front of him, he looks back on childhood memories that haunt him and he pictures places he never wants to go back to. These thoughts light a fire under him that I can't see a man extinguish anytime soon. The scariest part is his stare-eyes of a demon that stare into the abyss with a layer of gloss that forces out emotions.

“A warrior takes responsibility for his acts, for the most trivial of acts. An average man acts out his thoughts, and never takes responsibility for what he does.” – Glorious Carlos. Let's go back a few years, where being a MMA superstar wasn't a dream for Ryan. Let's just say Ryan wasn't on the right side of the law, situations became heated people who shouldn't have said anything, said it all, and Ford was sentenced to 4 years in prison on top of other charges. This warrior had to take all the responsibility.

All he had was time, time to think about his life and his choices, time to play video games and watch shows on his little 14inch television set. During one of the free Ultimate Fight Nights on spike TV Ford saw Jason MacDonald defeat Ed Herman while seeing Mark Pavelich in his corner – Pavelich was an old friend who Ford use to train with during his quick amateur boxing career- and Ford went on telling everyone in jail that he knew those guys, nobody believed him! Since he had time on his side, he started training finding boxers to box with, and wrestlers to wrestle with. He finally realized what he was really good at and what he really wanted to do and he told his fellow inmates that one day he will be where MacDonald was – They didn't believe him.

After serving 2 years Ford was let out on Parole due to good behavior, and found his former friend Mark Pavelich who not only brings fighters to the UFC but owns the MFC – The Maximum Fighting Championship- the biggest MMA show in Canada and gaining momentum on the world. After training with Pro Camp for a few weeks, his teammates knew he was a natural.

June 22 nd , 2007 was the birth of a prodigy; Ryan Ford defeated experienced Aaron Gallant in the second round via KO. With little to no training at all, he brought the “thug” into MMA . He fights to survive; Ryan Ford fights to give himself and his family a new life – a good life. When August came around Ford had is second MMA fight with a lot more training and he catches on quick. It only took about a minute to finish of his opponent Randy Valette after a few devastating slams and elbows.

“I don't know why these other guys fight but when I fight I fight for my life” he said “Not only do I want a better life but I like the hype to, I want it all the adrenaline, the good life, the money, the fame and most of all I want to be remembered has a world champion” Ford added.

In October of this year Ryan Ford went down to Halifax , NS to take on his third opponent Adil Abbas. Another quick victory for ford has he forced a tap out at 1:21 of the first round by Rear naked choke showing his progress in being a well rounded fighter.

The bad news-When everything is perfect only a week left of parole to go, Ford makes a bad choice of drinking to celebrate his victory which is a “ no no” for his parole. Someone who didn't like to see Ford's progress put there nose in his business and “snitched” him out, as they say on the street. But with a few minor set backs, The Real Deal is back on track and ready to continue his drive to success.

How will this story end? There's a few different path's and Ryan Ford is the only one that can direct himself in the right direction. Where will he end up? I have nothing but positive thoughts for him he has cleaned up his life and it will only get better. At 25 Ryan Ford is still very young, will he be a world champion? Only he holds his own answers.

For now his next step comes on November 23 rd at the sold out MFC 14 High rollers when he faces off against dangerous undefeated contender Mike Sorenson. On this day the next chapter will be written.

The Filler – Matt Miller.