Featherweight contender hopefuls Jonathan Pearce and Joanderson Brito capped off the preliminary card of UFC Vegas 82 on Saturday.
Pearce, aka “JSP,” started the night on a five-fight win streak, one of the hottest prospects in the weight class, while Brito came in on a three-fight run. JSP is known for a pressure and cardio-heavy wrestling game while Brito is known as a heavy-handed Brazilian who can grapple as a backup option. Many questions abounded. Would Brito’s cardio fail over fifteen minutes vs Pearce? Could Pearce stand with Brito? Would Brito be able to stay off his back?
JSP shot a takedown almost immediately but Brito defended with a guillotine choke and got an advantageous clinch position. Brito then surprised with a double leg takedown of his own, which he landed by lifting and slamming Pearce onto his back. JSP gave up his back to get up and Brito went for the back take. However, he fell off over the top and Pearce established side control. Brito regained full-guard. Pearce got high and attempted a front choke but Brito wrestled up and stood up halfway through the round.
As they got to striking Brito threw bombs but could not land anything. Pearce timed a takedown well but Brito’s takedown defense held up. Jonathan managed to maintain an outside position which let him control Joanderson in the clinch, but when he tried to pull Brito down, the Brazilian got on top. Brito had to avoid an armbar and the second he escaped that Pearce wrestled up and ended the round back on the feet.
Pearce landed an easy takedown to start the second round, perhaps a sign of Brito slowing down. Brito could not get him off as JSP controlled him from full guard. Brito began to try to punch off his back, at which point Pearce complained to the ref about strikes to the back of the head. Joanderson made a scoffing noise, causing Pearce to mock him, shouting, “Get up and do something, boy!”
Brito did begin to try to get up by first getting to a knee then standing back up fully. They grappled in the clinch for a moment before Brito threw his arms around JSP’s head and locked up a ninja choke, fast as lightning. Pearce dropped to his back and tapped a split second later.
The submission finish came out of almost nowhere in a round where Brito was being dominated. Jonathan Pearce was well ahead in the fight at the time of the finish but that is the offensive potency of Joanderson Brito. That is the reason Brito has won four UFC fights in a row by finish. Perhaps the Brazilian fighter can expect a top-fifteen opponent in his next fight now.
Through a translator, Brito expressed his dissatisfaction with not getting a bonus for some past finishes and demanded a bonus for this performance with his post-fight interview.
Official Result: Joanderson Brito def. Jonathan Pearce by Submission (Ninja Choke) Round 2, 3:54
