UFC Fight Night headliner Ryan LaFlare hopes fans give him a shot
Casual fight fans who glanced at this Saturday's UFC Fight Night card may have initially been at a bit of a loss in identifying at least one of the main event participants, Ryan LaFlare. Opposite the welterweight flying under the radar, of course, will be former middleweight world title challenger Demian Maia.
LaFlare, on the other hand, is far from a household name. We should start paying more attention to the Blackzilian team member, however.
He's undefeated, and has won his first four UFC bouts. Now, he'll have a chance to shine in his first ever UFC main event.
Maia vs. LaFlare will be a fascinating contrast of grappling styles, and the American hopes that fight fans give the Rio card a chance.
"These cards that they are going to be weak are usually the best ones," LaFlare said last week on The MMA Hour.
"I think it's a highly competitive card. You've got me and Demian. No one really knows me yet, so wouldn't they want to watch and, you know, see what I'm about? They know who Demian Maia is. They want to see what Ryan LaFlare's got."
LaFlare takes some solace in the fact that the UFC believes in him enough to place in the marquee spot, opposite Maia. He also invited fans to watch a Blackzilian teammate of his who, like Demian Maia, is a world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
"Obviously, they made me main event, the UFC believes in me, so give me a shot," he continued.
"Plus, we've got [teammate] Gilbert 'Durinho" [Burns], world champion in Jiu Jitsu. I don't know why they wouldn't want to see him, too, so I don't know. It's kind of one of those wait and see [things]. If you're not watching it, then you're missing out."
