One of Canada's premier promotions has delivered an outstanding 2022, and Unified MMA is capping the year with a thrilling light heavyweight showdown at the River Cree Resort and Casino this Saturday evening.
Denver, Colorado-based Ty Flores (9-4) is traveling north to face Unified MMA 49 host Graham Park in a bid to capture the Unified MMA light heavyweight title held by Edmonton's Graham Park (8-3).
Flores enters the bout fully convinced of his chances, with ambitions stretching beyond this fight. A victory could lead to a Dana White's Contender Series invitation or even a shot at becoming a dual champion within Canada's premier promotion. His immediate task, however, is defeating the hometown champion on UFC Fight Pass.
"Winning the belt would mean a lot," Flores told MMA Empire. "They already have an American heavyweight champion in Jamelle Jones, and honestly, I'm not overly impressed by him."
"After this fight, my target is the next Contender Series run. There's a real possibility I get called up if I walk away victorious, but I'd rather stay active than sit around. What I'd love after that is a crack at the heavyweight title. Being a double champ would significantly boost my profile."
While Flores hasn't built a reputation for excessive trash talk, he did note what he believes gives him an edge: superior mental preparation and dedication to the sport.
"Park comes across as a nice person," Flores shared. "I saw some Unified write-up that made it seem like I was running my mouth. I've always tried to show proper respect. He's a solid individual."
"He's a firefighter, and MMA clearly isn't his full-time obsession. That's totally fair—I'm from the Midwest and I hold down a job too, but fighting is my life's work. It's a brutal sport, and treating it as anything less puts you at a disadvantage. I think that mindset difference will matter."
Flores holds genuine admiration for Park's power and knockout potential as the reigning light heavyweight king.
Relying on his conditioning and diverse skill set, Flores feels confident he possesses advantages across the board heading into Saturday's clash.
"Nothing obvious stands out," Flores noted. "He appears willing to engage in exchanges. He likes shooting for takedowns and using ground-and-pound to wear opponents down."
"I'll be ready for that approach. One area where he seems vulnerable is against southpaws, and I switch stances frequently, so that should slow him down early. He looks more like a first-round finisher, so extending the distance works in my favor. That said, neither of us is planning on going the distance."
After suffering a hard-fought defeat in his most recent bout, Flores remains open-minded about how he secures victory this time.
With a record featuring numerous submission wins and TKOs, Flores has demonstrated versatility across multiple victory methods. As he puts it, knowing his strategy won't necessarily stop it.
"Some fighters obsess over sticking rigidly to their game plan. I don't really care about that," Flores admitted. "Be straight with you—I have a rough outline of how I want to start and how things might unfold, but it's more about adapting to what the fight gives me. I have a sense of what Park intends to do, but I genuinely feel equipped for every phase of this matchup."
Training out of Elevation Fight Team's elite facility alongside top-tier athletes—including Curtis Blaydes, ranked fourth among heavyweights—Flores has access to world-class preparation daily.
"Curtis has been incredible to train with," Flores shared. "His wrestling is phenomenal, his striking is equally elite. Dealing with him in sparring sessions is genuinely challenging."
"He's been offering guidance this week, working through scenarios during rounds. He's been invaluable. My entire roster of training partners brings elite-level intensity, so it's been fantastic."
Flores' shoutouts
"Dave Fish at Paradigm Sports for making this fight happen. All my coaches and teammates at Elevation fight team." Follow Flores on social media: INSTAGRAM
