Ross Pearson Doesn’t See Retirement in His Future

Ross Pearson spoke with MMAjunkie for a new interview ahead of his fight with Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 110. The highlights are below:

On his future: “I’ll keep fighting forever. I don’t think fighting will ever stop. It’s in my blood, it’s who I am. But it’s definitely a get-back-on-track, get-back-to-what-I-do-best fight. I’m confident, I’m happy, I’m ready to go out there and entertain, and I hope Dan comes to fight.”

On making changes to his preparation after his losing streak: “I’ve had to reassess things and move on from it. Losing is a part of this sport; there aren’t many unbeaten champions in this sport. Losing is part of it, and it’s about the growth and the development. Many fighters could quit and say, ‘I’m sick of this, I’m done.’ I was so close to doing that. But, yeah, my stubborn fighter heart, mentality, the way I am as a person would never let that go. I keep fighting. My body is good, I keep training hard, keep bringing in new training partners, and keep trying to get better and improving. If it does go the distance, give the judges something they want to see so they will give me the decision, but I never look. I never go in there thinking, ‘I’m going to win by the judges decision.’ I go in there, and I go for the finish, and that’s sometimes why my fights have went the distance.”

On fighting in Hooker’s hometown: “I’m fighting Dan, he’s from Auckland, and he’s the hometown boy, so I’m going to be the bad guy for the weekend. Whatever. It is what it is; it’s fun. I enjoy coming to people’s hometowns and upsetting them. All the pressure is on him.”