It looks like a bout between Junior Assunção (13-4) and Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson (12-5) is close to being a reality as the Brazilian says he’s “99%” sure the fight will happen at UFC 141.
If the bout goes down at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, the event is set to take place on December 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Speaking to Sherdog.com, Assunção talked to them about welcoming Pearson to the UFC’s featherweight division.
“We haven’t signed yet, but I can say it’s a 99-percent chance that this fight will happen. I asked the UFC to face Pearson when I found out he was dropping to 145 pounds. He’s already telling everyone that he’ll fight me and I will welcome him.”
“I was with a student at a Florida-based event a while ago and [Pearson] started staring at me and didn’t stop. Thiago Tavares was beside me and told me to ask him if he was hungry and needed a sandwich,” revealed Assuncao. “Then, when I was with my brother, Raphael, at [UFC 134], he started staring at me again. When I noticed that he was dropping to my division, I immediately wanted to smash him.”
Assunção returned to the UFC this past September after going 7-1 since his last Octagon stint. Dropping to featherweight, Assunção faced Eddie Yagin at UFC 135 in September earning a unanimous decision at the Denver, Colorado event.
Pearson has talked about dropping to featherweight after going 1-2 recently. The Brit lost a split decision to Edson Barboza at UFC 134 in his last match, prompting his motivation to move weight divisions.
Update (10pm EST): The UFC promotion has made the Assunção vs. Pearson bout official, announcing the fight at UFC.com on Monday night.
Plus, another veteran with lots of firepower is entering the featherweight ranks. Ross Pearson is dropping a weight class and jumping into the division against Junior Assuncao.
Assuncao told one website that Pearson instigated a fight with him by staring him down at past events. The two called for the bout on Twitter, with Assuncao writing “I’ll give him the welcome to the 145 class” in response to a tweet announcing that Pearson had successfully made the featherweight limit on a test cut. “u may just get what u wish for, see u very soon!!” responded Pearson.