Ross Pearson
From FightWiki
 |
Name | Ross Pearson |
| Nickname | The Real Deal | |
| Association | Team Rough House | |
| Weight Class | Lightweight (155 lbs.) | |
| Height | 5' 8" (173cm) | |
| Style | Judo, Boxing | |
| Birth Date | September 26, 1984 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Sunderland, England | |
| Country | England | |
| Ross Pearson Pictures | Official Website |
Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson is an English mixed martial artist who competes as a Lightweight. He was the winner of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 9: United States vs. United Kingdom Lightweight tournament. He defeated Andre Winner to become the winner of the tournament.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 11 - 3 - 0 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 2 (T)KOs 5 Submissions 3 Decisions |
| Losses | 1 (T)KOs 1 Submissions 1 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Dennis Siver | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 21 | 3/31/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Aaron Riley | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera | 11/14/2009 | 2 | 4:38 | |
| Win | Andre Winner | Decision (Unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale | 6/20/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | UFC debut; Won The Ultimate Fighter 9 Lightweight Tournament |
| Win | Ian Jones | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UF: Nemesis | 11/01/2008 | 1 | 3:33 | Defended Ultimate Force World Lightweight Championship |
| Loss | Abdul Mohamed | Decision (Unanimous) | CG 9: Beatdown | 10/04/2008 | 3 | N/A | Controversial Decision; Caused Pearson's camp to never allow their fighters to participate in Cage Gladiators events |
| Win | Cedric Celerier | Submission | GR 24: Goshin Ryu 24 | 5/31/2008 | 1 | 2:35 | |
| Win | Aidan Marron | Submission (Armbar) | UF: Punishment | 5/03/2008 | 3 | N/A | Won Ultimate Force World Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Sami Berik | Submission (Triangle Choke) | SAS 6: Strike and Submit 6 | 4/13/2008 | 1 | 0:37 | Won Strike and Submit British Lightweight Championship |
| Win | Mark Spencer | TKO | GR 23: Goshin Ryu 23 | 2/23/2008 | 1 | 3:44 | |
| Win | Steve Tetley | Submission (Armbar) | CWFC: Enter the Rough House 5 | 12/08/2007 | 1 | 4:46 | |
| Win | Gavin Bradley | KO | GR 22: Goshin Ryu 22 | 11/24/2007 | 1 | 2:05 | |
| Loss | Kurt Warbuton | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | GR 21: Goshin Ryu 21 | 9/22/2007 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Will Burke | Decision | GR 21: Goshin Ryu 21 | 9/22/2007 | N/A | N/A | |
| Loss | Chris Hughes | Submission (Choke) | HOP 1: Fight Night 1 | 12/12/2004 | N/A | N/A | |
Biography
Pearson enrolled in a small college to study how to be a bricklayer. Ross then began training in Taekwondo, Judo and Boxing. He turned pro in December 2004.
Mixed Marital Arts Career
Ross began training in Taekwondo, Judo and Boxing. He turned pro in December of 2004.
On April 13, 2008, Pearson defeated Sami Berik at only 0:37 of the first round with a Triangle Choke to earn the Strike and Submit British Lightweight Championship. In his next fight, less than a month later, Pearson earned the Ultimate Force World Lightweight Championship by defeating Aidan Marron with an Armbar.
Pearson competed in a Cage Gladiators event in October of 2008, where he fought Abdul Mohamed. The bout went to the judges decision and Mohamed walked away the winner by way of Decision (Unanimous). It was an extremely controversial decision, and actually prompted Pearson's camp to never allow their fighters to participate in Cage Gladiators events again.
He came back to defend his Ultimate Force World Lightweight Championship in his next fight, defending it successfully when he defeated Ian Jones with a Rear Naked Choke in the first round.
The Ultimate Fighter
Pearson appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 9: United States vs. United Kingdom. He defeated A.J. Wenn by knock out in an elimination match earning him a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete on the show. Pearson had arguably controlled the first round against Wenn, leading Dana White and other observers of the fight at ringside to predict that Wenn wouldn't come out of his corner for the second round. Pearson finished the fight early in the second round. Pearson had his second fight against Team United States fighter Richie Whitson. Pearson defeated Whitson via a first round Armbar submission.
Pearson won his semi-final fight against Jason Dent via unanimous decision. The win put Pearson into the finals against his teammate Andre Winner.
Pearson had a professional record of 7-3 when he entered The Ultimate Fighter House. One of those losses - the most recent at the time - was a decision loss to Abdul Mohamed on the now-defunct Cage Gladiators show in Liverpool, UK. The decision was extremely controversial and Pearson's managers openly accused the promotion's judges of being biased towards Mohammed, who was fighting out of Wolfslair MMA Academy and was thus the hometown fighter. The promoter's decision to remove the fight from a subsequent television broadcast of the event it took place on was also seen as a suspicious act. Pearson's camp refused to allow any more of their fighters to compete on Cage Gladiators events.
Ultimate Fighting Championships
Pearson made his UFC debut on June 20th at the The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pearson fough Andre Winner to determine The Ultimate Fighter 9 Lightweight tournament winner. Pearson won a unanimous decision victory, as well as the six-figure contract.
In his first bout after winning the Lightweight tournament, Pearson faced off against Greg Jackson's MMA trained Aaron Riley on November 14, 2009 at UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera, on the event's main card. With his fellow Brits cheering him on, Pearson got off to a quick start and did significant damage with the Thai clinch while delivering knee strikes from a variety of angles. Riley, in fact, had no answer from the clinch and ate numerous shots while unable to shake free of his opponent's grasp. After a dominant first round, Pearson had more difficulty closing the distance in the second, though the damage continued to mount. Pearson struck from range, and when finally grabbing Riley by the back of the neck again, he delivered a brutal knee strike to the nose. Riley broke free of the hold and staggered backward while blood immediately began pouring from his nose. The bloody sight caused gasps from the MEN Arena crowd. The referee halted the action immediately after the blow, and after a quick consultation with the ringside physician, he opted to stop the bout for good. Pearson earned the TKO stoppage at 4:38 of that second round.
Person returned to face Dennis Siver on March 31, 2010 at UFC Fight Night 21. Siver, pre-fight, was on a three-fight win streak in the UFC, including two Knockout of the Night Honors. Pearson's crisp striking proved a fraction quicker than his opponent's, and it forced Siver often to counter-fight. Mixing in jabs, low kicks, power punches and constant movement, Pearson largely dictated the pace of the fight and cruised to a Decision (Unanimous) victory by taking all three rounds for 30-27 winning scores on all three judges' cards. The entertaining bout won the Fight of the Night Honors.
- "It just goes to show how good Dennis is," said Pearson. "I gave him some good shots, and he kept coming at me. ... I dug deep and just kept coming forward."
Ranks and Titles
- The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Lightweight Winner
- Total Combat International Lightweight Champion
- Strike and Submit British Lightweight Champion
- Ultimate Force British Lightweight Champion
