Martial New would like to introduce Ultimate Fighter Ross Pearson who is competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship 105 at the Manchester MENS Arena on Saturday, November, 14th.
Ross, who Sunderland born and bred, won The Ultimate Fighter 9 lightweight title earlier this year.
He has a boxing background but studied martial arts when younger.

Ross Pearson: I'm still on a high from Saturday night (November 14), following my stoppage win over Aaron Riley at UFC 105 in Manchester. I recorded the fight on the telly and have watched it back about a million times already. It still doesn't feel real. It just seems crazy to see myself and my coaches walk down towards the Octagon and prepare to step inside and fight in the UFC. It was the moment I'd always dreamed of, but, now that it's happened, I can't believe it.

I'm actually going back to the gym tonight (Wednesday) just to have some fun. I never stop training. I'm always hanging around at the gym and enjoying myself. Obviously I won't be fight-training, but I'll just go there and enjoy it. I won't be going 100 miles per hour or anything like that.

I don't put on a lot of weight and like to make sure that I keep everything in check, even between fights. I don't know who I’ll be fighting next or when I'll be fighting next, but I still believe it's important to look after yourself.

I'm not one of these guys that hates training and sees it as a chore. I actually enjoy going into the gym and training. It's my hobby and my passion and I get the chance to see all my friends at the gym. This is probably the reason why all my training camps are so good and productive. Even though we’re all working hard, we still have fun with it.

It felt like the world had been taken off my shoulders on Saturday night. For 15 weeks I'd done nothing but train and get ready for this fight with Aaron Riley. Now it's done. I felt relieved and felt like the weight had been lifted, but it also felt very surreal and like a dream. I truly couldn't believe that I'd just done it.

I was super nervous going into the fight. I never usually tell anyone, but I was definitely the most nervous I've ever been on Saturday night. I never usually get nervous for fights, but I just couldn't help it on Saturday. My coaches knew it, too. I actually started stretching and getting warmed up at 6.20pm. I wasn't supposed to be fighting for another two hours and yet I felt like I needed to warm up and get ready. I just couldn't sit still. I even put my shorts on and started shadowboxing in front of the mirror.

Once I actually stepped into the arena, I was absolutely fine. I was actually most nervous about walking through the crowd and was worried about how the noise of the event might affect my performance. As it happened, it went the exact opposite way and the crowd actually helped me relax and focus more.

The crowd was incredible and I’ve never witnessed anything like it. As soon as I stepped into the Octagon and felt the mat under my feet, I switched into a different person. My whole demeanour changed. I was more composed and calm than I’d ever been before. I couldn't even hear the crowd when I was in there fighting.

I'd been over the fight a million times in my head and knew I couldn't have been in better shape. I'd had no injuries in training camp and had trained for a solid 15-weeks. The fight went exactly as planned. I didn't get involved in a brawl, I stayed disciplined and I chipped away at Aaron gradually. I was surprised that he didn't come forward more and I was able to figure his style out straight away.

After the fight I sat on the top table at the post-fight press conference alongside Randy Couture, Brandon Vera, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and some of the other Brits that scored great victories at UFC 105. Dana White commented on how great I looked in my fight and it was amazing. Hearing those comments are the reason I get up at six o'clock in the morning and go out running. Every fighter says how much they love the sport, but I really do mean every word I say when it comes to how much this thing is my life. I think about nothing else, day in, day out.

The final cherry on the cake for me was meeting Randy Couture, my hero and inspiration. We stayed on the same floor in the hotel, so we actually bumped into each other a few times during fight week. We also shared the bus ride back to the hotel on Saturday night and we got to talk about a few things. He said that if I ever wanted to train out in his gym I'd be more than welcome and he then gave me his business card. It was incredible. A dream come true.

Ross Pearson: Well, here we are – it’s fight week. I’m now only a matter of days away from making my UFC debut at UFC 105 on Saturday (November 14) in Manchester.

The main emotion I have all week and on the day of a fight is excitement. That explains my mindset completely. It’s a good feeling. I’ve trained so hard for the previous 10 weeks; the fighting part is actually the easy part. The difficult stuff is getting beaten up in the gym for weeks on end and putting my body through hell. The actual fight itself is just my platform to show the world what I’ve been working towards.

On the day of the fight, I usually make sure I have a good Oatmeal breakfast with some protein and some fresh fruit. I then spend most of the day just relaxing and chilling out. I never really do too much, apart from maybe have a stretch early on to get the blood pumping around the body. My mood then switches to focused when I get the call to head down to the fight venue.

I’ve never had any problems sleeping before a fight. I could sleep on a washing line. I sleep really deep and as soon as my head hits the pillow I’m out like a light. I’m lucky enough to have a good night’s sleep on the eve of my fight and then have another sleep on the day of the fight.

Everybody talks about the pressure ahead of this fight, but I’m really looking forward to it. Increased pressure is usually a sign that you’re doing something right and I certainly feel that way right now.

Winning The Ultimate Fighter was just a stepping-stone for me. It has given me the chance to appear on a world-class level and I now see UFC 105 as just the start of my career. It’s almost like having my pro debut all over again.

It’s going to be great to fight on the same shows as James Wilks, Andre Winner and Nick Osipczak again. Every time James and I share a locker room we seem to come out on the winning side, which is a good omen for UFC 105. It feels good to have a lot of familiar faces around you before a fight. I’ll be appearing on the same night as Dan Hardy, Michael Bisping and all the other Ultimate Fighter guys, which will be really encouraging.

At the same time, though, this is an individual sport and I’m just here to fight. If I was thrown in the deep end on a Las Vegas show – and I was the only Brit there – it wouldn’t worry me in the slightest. I’m here to achieve my goals and I’m in this thing for myself. I respect my whole team and appreciate all the coaches that help me prepare, but I’m very much a one-man band when it comes times to fight. Nobody else can step into that Octagon and help you once the cage doors shut.

Ideally, I’d like to win this fight by knockout on Saturday. That’s the approach I take to every fight I have. I know Aaron Riley has never technically been knocked out before, but I’d like to test him out and try for a stoppage in the first round. I think I can win the fight early in an exciting slugfest. I just hope he comes out swinging as I’m well prepared for it.  

*** Last tickets for UFC 105 are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk ***

Ross Pearson: With two weeks to go before my UFC debut at UFC 105 in Manchester, it’s probably a good time to spend a moment looking at my opponent that night. As with all UFC contests, this fight on November 14 is not a one-man show and the guy in the opposite corner is very live and dangerous.

The opponent’s name is Aaron Riley and he’s been involved in 40 professional mixed martial arts bouts. He’s a very experienced veteran of the sport and has scored solid UFC wins over Jorge Gurgel and Shane Nelson. I’ve got a lot of respect for what Aaron has achieved in his UFC career to date, but he hasn’t fought me yet. Nobody knows how he will deal with me.

When I got the call to fight Aaron, I instantly started looking for footage of him and studied his game. I made a quick analysis of what I thought and then I handed the tapes to my coaches to make a more in-depth assessment. They would then break his game down and come up with some kind of game plan for me to work on in preparation.

Now and then I’ll have another look at the footage, if I’m perhaps on the computer or have worked on something specific in training. Aside from that, though, I don’t concentrate too much on what my opponent does in the Octagon. No matter what footage you watch, you won’t find footage of Riley fighting me. Neither of us know how that is going to play out.

Although you can never be sure, I believe Aaron is going to come straight-forward with his punches and then use his hands to set up a takedown. He’ll look at me and see someone who is fast and explosive with his hands and he’ll realise I’m very dangerous on my feet. I don’t think he’ll take many chances on his feet and will prefer to put me on my back.

The game plan can completely go out the window if you get hit and rocked. It doesn’t matter what you planned beforehand. I go into a fight with a game plan that I try and stick to but, more importantly, I try and enforce my game plan on my opponent. I try to make them fight my fight. That is the mentality I have going into every fight.

I also believe I’m well-rounded enough to change my game plan up if need be. When I fought Andre Winner in The Ultimate Fighter finale, the plan was to counter him and take him by surprise. He expected me to rush him and play into his hands, but I actually waited for him to lead. He then wanted to clinch with me and that took me by surprise. I then had to stay and clinch with him and get the better of him there. I had to adjust my tactics and game plan quite a lot during that fight.

I think this bout with Riley on November 14 is going to be a test of wills and a case of who wants it more. I can see Aaron coming out swinging and trying to take me by surprise. He will desperately want to knock me out on my home soil. He’s not going to come all this way from America to just lay down and get beaten up. There is a lot on the line for Aaron in this fight.

Now that I’m The Ultimate Fighter winner, I feel as though I’ve got a big price tag above my head. There will be a lot of guys out there that want to beat me up and expose me. It’s my job to show these fighters that I’m more than just The Ultimate Fighter. It’s my job to prove that I belong in the UFC for good…

*** Last tickets for UFC 105 are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk ***

Ross Pearson: Ask any UFC newcomer what the biggest challenge is ahead of their UFC debut and they’ll probably all say the same thing – coping with the size of the event. As difficult as it is to face a hungry and determined opponent, often the magnitude of the event and the size of the UFC crowd is the biggest obstacle.

After all, a lot of UFC newcomers aren’t used to fighting in front of a crowd of between 15,000 and 20,000 people. They usually arrive from small promotional companies and are more accustomed to performing in small halls and local clubs. It is an enormous leap for them when they eventually step into the UFC and start competing in front of arena-sized crowds.

A lot of pressure and anxiety can come from seeing so many people cheering and supporting you or the opponent. There are many fighters that excel in the gym and look a million dollars behind closed doors, yet as soon as they get on ‘the big stage’, in front of thousands of fans, they fall to pieces and are unable to perform.

I’m aware of the importance of keeping it together on the night. When I make my UFC debut at UFC 105 on November 14, I’ll be walking out in front of a crowd just shy of 20,000 people. It’s a huge occasion for me and one I’ve been preparing for since the end of June. I’ve been preparing physically in the gym for around 12 weeks now, but I’ve also been doing a great deal of mental preparation, just to make sure I’m able to cope with the size of the event when the time comes.

I’ve never witnessed anything like a major UFC event before. I’ve obviously attended them in the past, but I’ve never actually walked out to a huge UFC crowd ahead of a fight. I don’t know how that’s going to feel and, to be honest, I’m a little anxious about the whole thing. I’m nervous about the big spotlight, the noise and all the people watching me. I’m not worried about the fight itself, but just wary of the possibility I might not perform to my best.

Nobody really knows how you will cope with the big stage until you actually go out there and experience it. I’m anxious to try it, but I’m also very excited about the whole thing. When I went down to UFC 70 at the MEN Arena, I knew back then that I’d one day be competing at that arena for the UFC. That day is now fast approaching.

I spoke to Mike Bisping the other week at one of the local MMA shows in Liverpool. He basically told me to keep my composure on the night and prepare myself for the huge reception I’m going to receive when I enter the Octagon. So long as I prepare myself for it, I think I’ll be fine. I know the Manchester fans are going to be incredible on November 14 and I’m more than ready for it.

My experience in Las Vegas at The Ultimate Fighter finale was a good dress rehearsal for future big UFC nights. It gave me a taster of what is to come and was basically an introduction to the whole UFC fight night. Fighting in Vegas allowed me to bridge the gap between fighting on local shows and then fighting on a huge event like UFC 105. It now doesn’t feel like I’m just being thrown in the deep end when I make my debut in Manchester.

When the time comes, the crowd often don’t even enter your mind. When you’re making that walk to the Octagon, it’s all about you, your opponent and your desire to win. Nobody else matters at that point in time. Sometimes you don’t even realise you’re fighting in front of thousands of people. I’m just so focused on the fight. Once that cage door shuts, it’s just me and my opponent. I don’t hear anything else. Nothing else matters. Nobody else can help you…

 *** Last tickets for UFC 105 are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk ***

ROSS PEARSON: Winning The Ultimate Fighter season nine has had a major effect on both my life and my career as a mixed martial artist. It has given me the opportunity to compete in the UFC at the highest level and has also helped my profile in both Britain and America. Whereas before I could walk down the street and go unnoticed, nowadays people know who I am and recognise me from The Ultimate Fighter.  

I sometimes get a few strange looks in the street, which is quite funny. I also go past some people and hear, ‘is that him? Is that the guy off The Ultimate Fighter?’. It’s nice to be recognised, as it shows people are watching the sport and are following my career. I never got into mixed martial arts to become a television star, but it feels good to know people appreciate your skills. 

 In terms of my MMA career, the biggest upshot of winning The Ultimate Fighter is undoubtedly the chance to compete in the UFC and appear at UFC 105 on November 14. The event is taking place in Manchester, England and I’ve been handed the chance to make my official UFC debut against American Aaron Riley. Not only that, I’ll also be appearing on the official main card, which means my three-rounder with Riley will be screened live on ESPN in the UK and on SPIKE TV in America. This presents me with the perfect opportunity to show the world exactly what I can do inside the Octagon.

As well as improving my profile overseas, I’m also keen to become the UFC poster boy for Sunderland. I think there’s potentially a massive following for MMA in Sunderland and the North East and I’ve now got the chance to be known as region’s most successful mixed martial artist.

Mixed martial arts is getting bigger and bigger in the region and I think my victory in The Ultimate Fighter will only help the rise of it. 

Young kids will have seen my success and will have realised what doors can open up within the UFC. People from the North-East are working class and grafters and they have that inbuilt fighting mentality. 

We don’t receive things on a silver spoon and we have to work for everything we get in life. I’m basically just one of them. I’m a normal lad that enjoys testing myself in a fighting environment.

The crowds that Tony Jeffries draws in the North-East tell me that there would be a huge following for me and other mixed martial artists from the region. Jeffries was, of course, the Olympic bronze medallist boxer from 2008 and he’s already a big ticket-seller in area.

I box out of the same gym as Tony Jeffries, and he’s something of a local hero up here. He draws big crowds to his fights and he’s only had a few to date. Tony did amazing in the Olympics and he’s started really well in his pro career. He seems to have adapted nicely to the pro game and I can see him achieving big things.

Success breeds success and I try to spend as much time in Sunderland as possible during a week. From Wednesday to Saturday I’m back home in Sunderland and I then spend Monday and Tuesday down in Nottingham at the Rough House gym. I would love to spend more time in the Rough House, but it’s a two-and-a-half hour drive away and it takes its toll sometimes.

I’ve got my Thai-boxing coach, my boxing coach and my strength and conditioning coach back at home in Sunderland, but my main sparring work is done in Nottingham. There are no better training partners than Dan Hardy, Paul Daley and Andre Winner. The Rough House gym is practically a who’s who of UK MMA. I don’t care what other people say; the Rough House is the best MMA gym in the country.

So long as I’m working with that calibre of training partners on a daily basis, I know I’m heading in the right direction. As I mentioned in my last column, The Ultimate Fighter success has now tipped the focus on me and opened doors in terms of training and opportunity. It’s fair to say I’m enjoying my time in the spotlight…

 *** Last tickets for UFC 105 are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk ***

THE MOMENT OF A LIFETIME

ROSS PEARSON: This is the moment I’ve been waiting for since I first started watching my old UFC DVDs, dreaming of one day competing in the Octagon.

I’m now five weeks away from my official UFC debut at UFC 105 in Manchester, and training has kicked into overdrive. I’ve actually had a 15-week training camp for this fight, which is a little longer than I normally do. I’m now into my tenth week of training and it feels as though I’ve been going non-stop since June. The time has just flown by.

The first six weeks were all based around heavy, power explosion work with my strength and conditioning coaches. I also did a lot of boxing and wrestling drills. My boxing has been more technical ahead of this fight as my UFC 105 opponent (Aaron Riley) is a southpaw and that requires slight technical adjustments. It’s a lot trickier fighting a southpaw opponent, as opposed to an orthodox guy.

We’re now in the last five weeks of training and this is where my conditioning work steps up to the next level and my sparring gets even more intense. This is where I start to feel the benefits of the previous six weeks. My endurance is through the roof at the moment and I’m feeling fitter already than I’ve ever felt before.

 Getting in shape and staying in shape has never really been a problem for me. I see myself as a dedicated, full-time athlete and I live accordingly. I’m not like Ricky Hatton, who might go on a big drinking and eating binge after a fight and then battle to get the weight off again. I usually have a week of two off after a fight and then I’m straight back into constant training. My body feels all the better for it. I’ve been in the gym enjoying everything I do and, because the camp has been so long, it’s allowed time for plenty of variation and planning.

The dangers of a long camp are well known to people in the fight game. You can often get caught up in over-training or peak too early before a fight. That was a slight concern with me, simply because I like to go all-out in training and do everything at 100 miles per hour. 

To conquer this we basically monitored and logged all my hours of training and kept an eye on the point where I could be liable to over-train. I’ve often wanted to do more boxing training and more strength and conditioning, but my coaches have just turned around and said, ‘No Ross, you’re not doing anymore’. I’ve got good people keeping an eye on me and I trust their judgement.

To be honest, last weekend was the first time I’ve had a full weekend off training since we started camp. I took that weekend off simply because I was getting too fit too fast and was basically peaking at the wrong time. I could sense that and knew I needed to take a couple of days off. I was almost getting too eager to fight.

Since taking the weekend off, my body has felt much better for it. I’ve been firing on all cylinders this week and I wish the fight was tomorrow.

One of the joys of being part of the UFC is that there is now a lot more attention on me in camp and more time to prepare myself. My training camp is now much more focused on me, whereas in the past I was just part of a big team.

In the past I would have been helping other guys get ready and would have been used as a sparring partner. Now we’re dealing with the UFC, I need my coaches there for me and nobody else. I’m doing a lot more one-on-one work with my coaches than I’ve ever done before. I’m also doing a lot of sparring at the Rough House gym in Nottingham, which is the best MMA gym in the UK right now.

I sometimes watch the early UFC events in between training sessions and it’s crazy to think I’m now a part of this thing. I’m no longer just a fan of the UFC; I’m one of the competitors. I’m anxious, nervous and excited to finally get this chance. It is everything I’ve ever worked towards in my life and on November 14 I’ll finally get my chance to do it. This is just the start of my journey…

Last tickets for UFC 105 are available now from ticketmaster.co.uk

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