Des Green scored the first stoppage of UFC Philadelphia with a first-round TKO against Ross Pearson.
Des Green was once a Titan FC featherweight champion but is now committed to the lightweight division after the weight-cuts did damage to his gas tank. Green is 2-3 in the UFC with wins over Josh Emmett and Gleison Tibau. Two of those losses, though, were in fights where his opponent missed weight by five pounds. He’ll be looking to recover from one of those, a loss against a heavy Mairbek Taisumov, at UFC Philadelphia.
Ross Pearson has been in the UFC for 10 years since winning the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter. He holds an even 12-12 record in the Octagon and has lost five of his last six fights. The British striker holds notable victories over Paul Felder and Gray Maynard in his long career. He’ll be looking to bounce back from a Fight of the Night loss to John Makdessi in his last appearance.
A bit of a feeling out process in the first minute with both fighters throwing leg kicks and gauging the distance. Pearson lunges in and gets caught with a counter right hook that sits him on his butt. Green times the level change from the British veteran and lands a knee to ward off the takedown attempt. Green shoots in for his own takedown, a single leg, and transitions to a double leg. The Predator immediately started throwing aggressive ground and pound strikes with little resistance, leaving the ref no choice but to step in and stop the fight. Pearson looked to be more focused on standing up than defending himself.
Green capitalized on the big moment by asking for a spot on UFC Rochester, saying he’d fight in his hometown for free.
Desmond Green def. Ross Pearson by TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (2:52)
