Ultimate Fighter winner Ross Pearson returns in February to try and shake off a four fight slump.
Ross Pearson, winner of the Ultimate Fighter 9 lightweight tournament, is set to return at February’s UFC 221. ‘The Real Deal’ will be looking to put an end to a four fight losing streak at the event. Opposite Pearson in the octagon will be Japan’s Mizuto Hirota.
Pearson (19–14 (1)) last appeared at UFC Fight Night 110 in June, where Dan Hooker finished him with a knee. Prior to that, he’d dropped fights to Stevie Ray, Jorge Masvidal, and and ‘Ill’ Will Brooks. His last victory came in 2016, a split decision win over fellow TUF winner Chad Laprise.
The UFC announced the fight on Saturday, following an earlier report by MMA Junkie.
We go Down Under!@RossTheRealDeal vs. Mizuto Hirota official for #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/n5HPNkyByU
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 23, 2017
Mizuto Hirota (18–8–2) enters the night off a loss to Alexander Volkanovski, also at UFC Fight Night 110. Prior to that, however, the Japanese fighter had been on a five fight undefeated streak. The aforementioned streak includes a 2015 draw against Teruto Ishihara in the Road to UFC: Japan tournament final. That punched his ticket back to the UFC after Hirota went 0-2 in the promotion in 2013.
The action takes place February 11 at the Perth Arena in Perth, Australia. Robert Whittaker faces Luke Rockhold for the UFC middleweight championship in the UFC 221 main event.
