Ross Pearson (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

After being stopped by Al Iaquinta last November, Ross Pearson was hoping to remind the MMA world of his finishing abilities at UFC 185, and the lightweight did just that.

Pearson took out rugged veteran Sam Stout with a punishing left hook on Saturday night, and in doing so, the British fighter pushed his record to 17-8. After the bout, Pearson spoke with the UFC’s Megan Olivi, and here is some of what the 30 year-old had to say about the win and his loss to Iaquinta.

“It shows that I’m a warrior man. I’ve been fighting the last few fights through illness, my body’s healthy now, my mind’s in the right place and that last fight wasn’t Ross Pearson. It wasn’t me. 100% it wasn’t me. That tonight was frustration, stress, and a lot of anger I had built up inside over the last few months, and it’s all off my chest now and it came out with my fists. It feels good to let it go and now I can continue on with my career and push forward. I believe I’m the best striker in this division, I believe I’ve got the best power and I believe I can knock anyone out in the world at 155 pounds.”

“The Real Deal” has gone 2-2, with 1 no contest, now in last five bouts. Pearson’s other loss during that stretch came via split decision to Diego Sanchez last June. The judges’ decision, however, was widely considered to be one of the worst in recent memory. Following the controversial defeat, Pearson went on to stop Gray Maynard in August.