The Rematch - Spratt vs. Ford II at MFC 27

[keithlewis]

Welterweight rivalry gets a second spark at Bragging Rights. The first fight ended with plenty of heated controversy and lingering doubt. The second one will settle the score once and for all.


With a stellar lineup already coming into play for MFC 27: Bragging Rights, the Maximum Fighting Championship is furthering bolstering the season-finale card by adding a much-desired rematch that will see Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford (12-3) meet "The Secret Weapon" Pete Spratt (21-18) for a second time.

Ford vs. Spratt II will highlight the stacked roster of fights, including the MFC welterweight clash between Douglas Lima and Jesse Juarez, all slated for Friday, November 12 at the River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta, and live on HDNet Fights.

"The electricity, the anticipation, the atmosphere in the building when Ford and Spratt first fought was so unbelievable. And it's going to be 10 times more spectacular this time around," said Mark Pavelich, Owner/President of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

"These two guys couldn't stand each other from the start and I don't think it has tapered off one bit over the last two years. There's so much animosity left that Part 2 is going be even more exhilarating."

These two welterweights stirred up plenty of bad blood in the lead-up to MFC 15 and it carried over into the ring. In Round 1, Spratt dropped Ford with a stiff kick but Ford battled back to gain top control as the first stanza neared its end. But clearly after the bell rang to conclude Round 1, Ford cracked Spratt with two elbow strikes that left the 11-year veteran nearly unconscious.

Spratt courageously opted to continue though it was clear he was feeling the effects of the late - and non-penalized - blows. Ford didn't hesitate, capitalizing on Spratt's state and he secured a standing rear-naked choke for the tapout win - a victory that catapulted Ford into a shot at the MFC's 170-pound title.

While angered by the outcome, Spratt, who fights out of San Antonio, Texas, put his game back together and reemerged under the MFC banner in dynamic fashion. First, Spratt launched his comeback at MFC 22 when he locked up the MFC's 2009 Knockout of the Year honor by crushing Nathan Gunn with an uppercut that brought a devastating end to their bout in the second round. Then Spratt further staked his claim at redemption when he used all of his veteran savvy to hold fort against Luigi Fioravanti through two rounds at MFC 25 before putting "The Italian Tank" away with another Knockout of the Year candidate.

Spratt's career resume is an impressive read of opposition including Georges St. Pierre, Josh Koscheck, Carlos Newton, Robbie Lawler, Yves Edwards, John Alessio, Rich Clementi, Chris Lytle, and Marcus Davis. Spratt is one of the most-feared strikers in all of mixed martial arts and has racked up 11 knockouts to his credit.

Ford is well-known to MFC fans who have seen him develop as a prospect, take part in two welterweight title matchups, and return to the organization at MFC 26 where before a sold-out crowd he was forced to tapout via armbar against current title contender Douglas Lima. Highly regarded for his fast-paced attack, Ford has a relentless pace, power, and aggression all of which combine for a crowd-pleasing style.

The Edmonton, Alberta, product has topped notable names including C.J. Fernandes, Nabil Khatib, Markhaile Wedderburn, and Tommy Speer. Ford has shown well-rounded form when it comes to finishing fights, scoring five knockouts and six submissions.

Ford vs. Spratt 2 complements an already outstanding lineup for MFC 27: Bragging Rights including:

Douglas Lima vs. Jesse Juarez, welterweight title
Dwayne Lewis vs. Razak Al-Hassan, light heavyweight
Kajan Johnson vs. Orestes Betran, lightweight