Park to get UFC opportunity

Harvey Park crossed a huge milepost in his career last April when he became a Mixed Martial Arts champion.

He’s approaching another one — trying to move up to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Park will attempt to do so against Venezuelan-born Omar Morales on Aug. 6 at Las Vegas’ UFC Apex, with the winner getting a UFC contract.

Park — a Curry County sheriff's deputy originally from Downey, California who grew up in Melrose — crowned himself the Legacy Fighting Alliance’s lightweight champion on April 26 with he took care of Demarques Jackson of Florida with two seconds to go in Round 1 of their bout at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the then-vacant crown.

Park (12-2) is now hoping for that shot in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), wanting to follow the path of prior LFA lightweight champion Austin Hubbard, who went directly to the UFC without even having to defend the LFA belt. And Park will indeed be on that path if he beats Morales on Aug. 6.

Morales, now based in Florida, has less pro fights than Park, but has won them all, carrying a 7-0 record into the Aug. 6 bout.

Here’s the tale of the tape:

• Both fighters are 33 years old, with Morales a negligible five months older.

• According to their most recent official weights, Morales had the slight advantage, 155.8 pounds to Park’s 153.0 pounds.

• Park has a height advantage, standing an even 6 feet tall to Morales at 5-10.

• Advantage Morales in reach: 74.0 inches to Park’s 72.0.

Park's road to his UFC shot has been a 10-year battle that began after his military discharge, and included hours of hard work at Force of One Martial Arts gym in Clovis, owned and operated by trainer Eric Suan.

Park now looks to keep that journey headed in the right direction. Because, as Park said after taking the LFA lightweight championship last spring, “It’s always awesome to win.”

Especially when the reward is a place in the UFC.