BRITAIN’S Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson heads into UFC International Fight Week with a new fighting focus and ready to take a big step towards his dream of a world title.
Pearson, 31, will step into the Octagon for the 20th time in his career to take on American Will Brooks at The Ultimate Fighter Finale on Friday night.
And the Brit says he’s seeing the world through new eyes after becoming a dad for the first time two months ago.
Speaking to SunSport ahead of his fight in Las Vegas, Pearson said: “This is the biggest combat stage you could fight on.
“Millions of eyes are gonna be watching and there’s gonna be a lot of hype around the fights. I’m excited to go out there and put on a show.
“I’m a 20-fight veteran in the UFC. Every time I come to fight, win, lose or draw, I’m gonna put on an exciting fight, you always know that’s gonna happen.
“But this time I’m a little bit more focused, a little bit more determined, I’ve got that added motivation from my family. And I’m in a good place right now to go in there and take this guy out.”
The ‘guy’ in question is Brooks, a talented athlete who rose to prominence Stateside by winning the lightweight title with the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion.
But Pearson explained that titles elsewhere count for little when you step into the UFC.
“I know he’s an athletic, strong, powerful, well-rounded fighter,” he said.
“But to be honest, he’s at zero right now. I’ve never seen him fight in the UFC.
“I’m a 20-fight veteran in the UFC. I’ve fought the who’s who. I’ve been in there with everyone and I’ve done this a long time.
“He hasn’t been here for seven years. He hasn’t fought a who’s who in the world of MMA.
“Yes, he was the champion in another organisation, but he has yet to prove himself in the UFC, that biggest stage in mixed martial arts.
“All those questions are on him. He has to figure out where he’s at.
“I’m just concentrating on me, focusing on what I do, and I’m excited to go in there and take this guy out.”
And for Pearson, who used to work on building sites by day and as a doorman at night, fighting during UFC International Fight Week is the perfect stage to showcase his renewed focus.
“It’s going to get done, Ross Pearson style,” he enthused.
“I’m gonna go in there, get in his face, make him miss, wear him down and catch him with a shot.
“My boxing and timing is on point. I feel fast, I feel lean, I feel sharp. I just feel that everything he throws, whether it be kickboxing, wrestling, whatever he does, I’ll have an answer for.
“The volume of repetition that’ll come back at him will be too much for him and I’ll overwhelm him and take him out.”
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