Ryan Ford (fighter)


Ryan Ford is a Canadian professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2007, Ford has also formerly competed for Bellator, the WSOF, the MFC, TFC, and the AFC.

Mixed martial arts career

Maximum Fighting Championship

Ford began his career with Maximum Fighting Championship, On February 22, 2008 at MFC 15 Ford defeated Pete Spratt via rear-naked choke in the second round.
On May 9, 2008 at MFC 16 Ford defeated CJ Fernandes via rear-naked choke submission in round one.
On July 25, 2008 at MFC 17 Ford was defeated by Pat Healy via arm-bar submission, the fight was for the MFC Welterweight Championship.
On September 28, 2008 at MFC 18 Ford defeated Laverne Clark via guillotine choke in the second round.
On February 20, 2009 at MFC 20 Ford was defeated by Pat Healy via split decision in a rematch for the MFC Welterweight Championship.
On September 10, 2010 at MFC 26 Ford was defeated by Douglas Lima via armbar submission in the second round.
On November 12, 2010 at MFC 27 Ford defeated Pete Spratt in a rematch via rear-naked choke submission.
Ford has twice left the Edmonton-based MFC organization due to contract disputes.

Independent promotions

Ford signed with the Edmonton-based promotion The Fight Club. On March 19, 2010, at TFC 10 Ford defeated former Ultimate Fighter finalist Tom Speer via rear-naked choke submission in round one on March 19, 2010 to retain the TFC Welterweight Championship.
On May 19, 2011, Ford fought UFC veteran Karo Parisyan at MMA Live 1 in London, Ontario, After the first two rounds, Ford caught Parisyan with a knee and cut his forehead, causing the doctor and referee to stop the fight giving Ford the win via doctor stoppage.

Aggression Fighting Championship

On June 10, 2011, Ford Returned to the Aggression MMA organization at AMMA 7: Confrontation defeating Nick Hinchcliffe in the round three via TKO due to punches. On September 16, 2011, at AMMA 8: Unfinished Business, Ford was defeated by David Hulett via guillotine choke in the round one. On February 11, 2012, Ford defeated Ricky Goodall at AMMA 9 via TKO due to elbows in round one.
On March 23, 2013, Ford fought for the renamed Aggression Fighting Championship promotion in Edmonton, Alberta. Ford defeated Brendan Tierney via KO in the second round at AFC 17.
Ford faced vet Michael Hill on July 5, 2013 at AFC 19 for the AFC Welterweight Championship. Ford defeated Hill via rear-naked choke submission in the fifth round to win the AFC Welterweight Championship.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Ford signed with Bellator making his debut On May 4, 2012 at, Ford defeated Luis Santos via TKO due to knees and punches in the second round.
On November 2, 2012 at, Ford took on Kyle Baker at Casino Rama in Ontario, Ford won via unanimous decision.

World Series of Fighting

On December 5, 2013, it was announced that Ford signed a multi-fight deal with World Series of Fighting’s Canadian branch and is expected to debut under the WSOF banner in early 2014.
Ford is expected to make is WSOF debut at against Joel Powell for the inaugural WSOF Canadian Welterweight Championship. Ford won via knockout due to a front kick and punches in just 53 seconds of round one to win the WSOF Canadian Welterweight Championship.
Ford was scheduled to fight Bristol Marunde on June 7, 2014 at. He pulled out after getting injured during training.
Ford faced Jake Shields in the main event at on October 11, 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Although he dropped Shields early in the fight with a left hand, Ford eventually lost the fight via rear naked choke submission in the first round.
Ford was set to face Yushin Okami in a Middleweight bout for the main event of on June 5, 2015. However, Ford announced that he had to pull out of the June fight with Okami.

Professional boxing career

Ford made his professional boxing debut on February 13, 2010, winning a four-round majority decision over Willard Lewis. On June 8, 2015, it was announced that Ford was retiring from MMA to focus on a career in professional boxing.
Ford fought on September 11, 2015 against Gary Kopas competing for the KO Boxing promotion. He won a four-round unanimous decision.
On September 20, 2015, it was announced that Ford will fight on October 16, 2015 against Antonio Dos Santos at Dekada Premier Fight Night. He won via knockout in the first round.
On November 13, 2015, it was announced that Ford will fight on December 4, 2015 against Alvaro Enriquez for the KO Boxing promotion. He won via technical knockout in the second round.
On February 22, 2016, it was announced that Ford will fight on March 11, 2016 against David Whittom for the KO Boxing promotion. He won via knockout in the first round.
On April 22, 2016, Ford faced former Thailand Olympic Gold and Silver medalist Manus Boonjumnong. He won via fourth-round technical knockout after his opponent was no longer able to continue entering the fifth round.
On September 9, 2016, Ford faced former World Boxing Council Cruiserweight Champion Victor Manuel Palacios for the KO Boxing promotion. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
On October 29, 2016, it was announced that Ford would face IBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight Champion Sam Rapira on February 17, 2017 for the Vacant UBO Light Heavyweight Championship. He won the fight via TKO to become the UBO World Light Heavyweight Champion.
On November 10, 2016, it was announced that Ford would be facing Mario Baeza for the KO Boxing promotion on December 2, 2016. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
On March 13, 2017, it was announced that Ford would be making the first defense of his title against former WBC Asian World Champion New Zealand fighter Robert Berridge on May 27, 2017. He won the fight via technical decision after an accidental head butt.
On August 10, 2017, it as announced that Ford would be facing British fighter WBO European Light Heavyweight Champion Anthony Yarde on September 16, 2017 for the vacant WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Championship. On August 25, 2017, it was announced that the fight was canceled after a contract dispute.
On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Ford would be facing Joaquin Murrieta on September 9, 2017 for Rixta Promotions. He won the fight via corner stoppage in the fourth round.
On November 17, 2017, it was announced that Ford would be facing former WBA Super Middleweight Champion Fedor Chudinov for the WBA International Super Middleweight Title on December 9, 2017.

Personal life

Ford is married to wife Nina & has two children, a son, Ryan Jr. and a daughter, Bella. He is the son of retired professional boxer Al Ford.
In 2003, Ford was the participant in an armed robbery home invasion. During the robbery, Ford used a knife on the home owner and cut the victim's left index and middle finger to the bone. The victim's wife and two children were present in the house at the time. Ford served a four-year sentence for this crime.

Championships and accomplishments

Boxing

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Loss17–6 Aslambek IdigovMD10Feb 21, 2020Dynamo Palace of Sports, Moscow, Russia.png" />
22Win17–5 Orlando VazquezTKO6, 2:59Dec 6, 2019
21Loss16–5Joshua BuatsiKO7, 1:07Aug 31 2019 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor WBA International light heavyweight title
20Win16–4 Serge MichelKO8, 0:37Apr 6, 2019 Ballhaus Forum, Unterschleißheim, GermanyWon WBC International Silver light heavyweight title
19Loss15–4 Nick HannigUD12Feb 9, 2019 Verti Music Hall, Berlin, GermanyFor WBC International light heavyweight title
18Win15–3 Jovica KokotKO2, 1:05Dec 15, 2018 Stockschützenhalle, Kühbach, Germany
17Loss14–3 Avni YildirimUD12May 12, 2018 Nobeo Studios, Cologne, GermanyFor WBC International super middleweight title
16Loss14–2 Andrey SirotkinUD12Mar 24, 2018Krasnodar, Russia.png" />For vacant WBA Inter-Continental super middleweight title
15Loss14–1 Fedor ChudinovUD12Dec 9, 2017Kemerovo, Russia.png" />For vacant WBA International super middleweight title
14Win14–0 Miguel CubosTKO3, 2:36Oct 21, 2017
13Win13–0 Joaquin MurrietaRTD4, 3:00Sep 9, 2017
12Win12–0 Robert BerridgeTD7, 3:00May 27, 2017Retained UBO light heavyweight title;
Fight stopped after Berridge cut from accidental head clash
11Win11–0 Rob NicholsRTD5, 3:00Mar 10, 2017
10Win10–0 Sam RapiraTKO9, 2:09Feb 17, 2017Won vacant UBO light heavyweight title
9Win9–0 Mario BaezaUD6Dec 2, 2016
8Win8–0 Victor Manuel PalaciosUD6Sep 9, 2016
7Win7–0 Muhammad MeerajTKO1, 1:35Jul 23, 2016
6Win6–0 Manus BoonjumnongTKO5 Apr 22, 2016
5Win5–0 David WhittomTKO1, 1:18Mar 11, 2016
4Win4–0 Alvaro EnriquezTKO2, 1:22Dec 4, 2015
3Win3–0 Antonio Dos SantosTKO1, 2:29Oct 16, 2015
2Win2–0 Gary KopasUD4Sep 11, 2015
1Win1–0 Willard LewisMD4Feb 13, 2010

Mixed martial arts record