Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) could use more fighters like Ross Pearson.
Pearson, still just 34, captured the glass trophy with a unanimous decision win over Andre Winner in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 Finale back in early 2009, one of 26 total UFC fights “The Real Deal” had across a span of nearly 10 years.
His technical knockout loss to Desmond Green at UFC on ESPN 2 last month in Philadelphia, regrettably, is expected to be his last.
“After some long hard talks, and careful consideration with my family, friends and team, I’ve decided it’s time to retire as an MMA fighter,” Pearson wrote on Instagram. “As hard as that is to say, it’s not the end of my career as a competitor. I’ve always been a fighter, and right now I am keeping my mind open as to what’s next for me.”
Pearson finishes 20-16 (1 NC) with seven knockouts and five submissions.
In an era when more and more combatants pick and choose their opponents and fight only when it seems to be most convenient, Pearson was one of the lightweight division’s most active fighters, and once competed eight times in less than two years (2015-16).
At some point the sport passed him by, as “The Real Deal” dropped six of his last seven and wisely recognized it was time to call it a career. While he never came close to a 155-pound title shot, Pearson was at one time ranked in the Top 10 and has multiple “Fight of the Night” bonuses to his name.
Happy trails.