(Tattoo advantage: Ford)

A welterweight bout between UFC vet Karo “The Heat” Parisyan and Canadian prospect Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford has been submitted to the Ontario Athletic Commission for approval for MMA Live’s inaugural card May 19 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, Canada.

According to a source we spoke to, Parisyan was originally offered a bout with Jordan “Young Guns” Mein, but the up-and-coming Alberta-based fighter is now likely headed to the UFC following his unanimous decision victory over Josh Burkman at MMA: The Reckoning in Orillia, Ontario last weekend. The win over Burkman marked Mein’s second win over a seasoned UFC veteran in the past three months. He beat Joe Riggs by TKO in January at Wreck MMA in Gatineau, Quebec.

14-3 in his four-year MMA career, Ford has only lost to two men: Pat Healy and Douglas Lima. On the cusp of making it to a big show for the past couple years, “The Real Deal” has stated on several occasions that he’ll fight any big name that will help take his career to the next level and a win over Parisyan may do just that.

For Parisyan (19-6), the fight represents a crossroads in his struggling career. A win over Ford would prove that he still has what it takes to be a relevant contender, but a loss may help support the popular theory that “The Heat” needs to think long and hard about whether or not he should continue to compete. Karo lost his last fight by TKO early in the first round against Dennis Hallman at UFC 123 in November and didn’t remotely resemble the fighter who is perhaps best remembered for his wars with Nick Diaz and Diego Sanchez.

MMA Live 1
May 19, 2011
John Labatt Centre
London, Ontario

MAIN EVENT
Ryan Ford (14-3) vs. Karo Parisyan (19-6)

Nick Denis (9-2) vs. Kyle Dietz (5-2)

Cory MacDonald (12-2) vs Frank Lester(6-5)

Chucky Mady (4-2) vs. TBA

Ali Mokdad (3-0) vs. TBA

Josh Powell (3-2) vs TBA

Anna Barone (1-2) vs TBA