The Ultimate Fighter winner Ross Pearson welcomed Ryan Couture, the son of MMA legend Randy Couture, to the Octagon as part of the UFC on Fuel 9 main card.
Though the younger Couture got off to a quick start and looked like he might just pull off the upset to carry on the winning tradition of his family name, Pearson found his rhythm midway through the second round and scored a TKO stoppage for the win.
What we’ll remember about this fight
It was the first time we’ve heard Bruce Buffer scream “Couture” for a while. It may not resonate the way it once did, but it’s enough to get the nostalgia flowing.
Couture looked good for the majority of the match, but Pearson finished him off quickly once he hurt him.
All told, we’ll probably remember this bout as Couture’s unsuccessful UFC debut.
What we learned about Ross Pearson
It wasn’t the best he has ever looked, but Pearson exhibited some patience throughout the fight and waited for his moment to jump in for the kill. That methodical approach is something he’s been going to more and more of late, which bodes well for his latest lightweight run.
After the fight, Pearson explained to Kenny Florian that he thinks he broke his foot kicking pads during warm-up. If that’s the case, then we learned that Pearson is one tough fellow.
What we learned about Ryan Couture
Couture did a bit better than most people probably thought he would, controlling the action for nearly the entire first round. But while he may have exceeded expectations in one way, we also learned that he enters the UFC nowhere near the top of the lightweight ladder.
He has plenty of time for growth, but next time out, Couture will be fighting for his job, not a chance to compete against a contender.
What’s next for Pearson
Mark Bocek would be a good option. He and Pearson are both on the fringe of 155-pound relevance, so a win would go a long way on either side.
What’s next for Couture
Michael Chiesa might be a nice matchup. It gives both guys a chance to get a signature win and would help the victor slowly scale the lightweight heights.
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