LaFlare: I can beat anyone in the division
Ryan LaFlare: “I’m undefeated. I only have four fights in the UFC, but I fight everybody they ask me to fight unless I get hurt.”
Ryan LaFlare has quietly started his UFC career with four straight wins, but has yet to fight anyone in the top fifteen. That will change at UFC Fight Night 62 when he takes on number seven ranked Demian Maia and for LaFlare, it’s a chance to prove he belongs among the divisions elite:
I feel like I belong here, LaFlare told MMAjunkie. I’m undefeated. I only have four fights in the UFC, but I fight everybody they ask me to fight unless I get hurt. I’ve been fighting professional since 2008. It’s not as long as Vitor (Belfort) and Urijah (Faber), but I’ve been doing this a long time. I get hurt a lot, unfortunately, because I put my whole heart and soul into it. But I really do feel like I belong here and I don’t think there’s anyone in the welterweight division I couldn’t beat.
LaFlare has won all four times he’s set foot in the UFC’s octagon, but all four wins have come by way of decision. While he’d like to get a should the opportunity present itself, LaFlare made it clear securing the win is his top priority.
I’ve got to get the win, you know what I mean? LaFlare explained. You train for the finishes and if the finish is there, you take it. But the win is more important. The way I play it out when I’m training and I’m fighting is, I always play like I’m behind on the cards. So I feel like I always have to put that extra in there because you don’t want to leave it to the judges.