• UFC 134

Pearson ready to die for place in UFC's top 10

ESPN staff
August 26, 2011
Ross Pearson is ready to test the heart of Edson Barboza at UFC 134 in Rio © Getty Images
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Ross Pearson insists he will push his body way beyond its limits in order to enter the top 10 of the UFC's lightweight division.

Pearson could barely have accepted a much more difficult challenge than the one facing him this weekend, when he meets Edson Barboza at UFC 134. The Brazilian is in front of his home fans, he has never been beaten, and he dishes out leg kicks like he's chopping wood.

Undoubtedly August 27 represents the biggest challenge of Pearson's career, but after bouncing back from defeat to Cole Miller with a victory over Spencer Fisher, he sees such mountains as necessary obstacles to overcome in pursuit of his dream.

"I've pushed up there. I want to be in the top 10 by the end of the year," he told the Daily Star. "I hoped for the fight a little sooner but it makes sense. It's a massive occasion and the fight I wanted. It's going to be the fight which has the most major tension around it.

"I know fighters say it a lot, but I don't know how anyone can want it more than I want it. I would die in the cage to win a fight it means so much. I know it's stupid, but I would die in a fight."

It is that attitude that Pearson believes will make the difference against an opponent who has only twice gone to three rounds.

"I want to test this guy and see how much he really does want it, because it's all very nice having everything your own way, but what's it like when it's not going his way?" questioned Pearson. "I'm not saying he's not a great fighter, he is, but how much does he want it?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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