I’m getting the sense that most fight fans view the co-main event of UFC on FUEL TV 9 to be just as much of a mismatch as the main event.
The headlining fight is, of course, light heavyweight contender Gegard Mousasi taking on Ilir Latifi in what should prove to be a very one-sided fight between one of the best fighters in the world in Mousasi and someone who no one had heard of until two days ago in Latifi, who took the fight on four days’ notice after training partner Alexander Gustafsson suffered a bad cut a week before the event. Even though that fight is a mismatch, at least it’s a short-notice bout that the UFC threw together at the last minute just so the fans get to see Mousasi fight.
But the co-main event between lightweights Ross Pearson and Ryan Couture? That fight was put together months ago, and from the moment the fight was announced I have mostly seen everyone write off Couture completely, pretty much handing Pearson the victory well before the fight had even taken place. There is the perception out there that this fight is a mismatch too, just not as blatant as Mousasi vs. Latifi. But I disagree. Pearson vs. Couture isn’t a one-sided matchup at all. In fact, it might actually be one of the most competitive fights of the night.
Anyone who thinks Pearson is just going to walk through Couture with ease doesn’t realize how talented the son of “The Natural” really is. Yes, he’s not his dad, who was a two-division UFC champion. And he never will be. But he can still be a solid fighter in the UFC lightweight division.
And sure, he did get a gift split decision against KJ Noons at the Strikeforce finale, but you know what? He made that fight close enough that there was room for error with the judges, and that’s exactly what happened. It’s also what happened in his fight before that against Joe Duarte. I scored both of those fights for Couture’s opponents, but the judges gave them both to him because he made them look close enough that the judges could make the mistake of giving him the decisions.
Couture got those decisions by throwing lots of punches, moving around a lot, throwing some leg kicks, and mixing in some takedowns. Judges love activity and/or a high work rate, and Couture is a master of it. He also has a last name that doesn’t hurt with the judges, either.
So even though I think Couture should have two losses on his resume in his last two fights, the fact the judges gave him both of those fights is telling. For whatever reason, they seem to like him, and that’s why I believe if Couture can stay competitive with Pearson for three rounds, he can – and likely will – win another decision.
I know Pearson is coming off of an impressive TKO win over George Sotiropoulos at UFC on FX 6 and has way more experience in the UFC than Couture, who will be making his promotional debut coming off of two iffy split decision wins. I know that Pearson is a better striker and has a ton of hype behind him. I know that he should win this fight, but that’s exactly what I thought about the Noons fight, and Couture ended up winning it.
Why did he win? Because sometimes it’s about more than just who is the harder puncher or who has been in the Octagon more times. This fight may come down to sheer heart, will, and who wants it more, and no one can deny the heart of Couture, who showed in the Noons fight that he can take a punch, overcome adversity, and keep on moving forward for three full rounds.
This Saturday, there’s going to be one mismatch, not two. Mousasi vs. Latifi is going to be as uncompetitive as it gets. But Couture vs. Pearson? Not only do I think this fight is going to be close, but don’t be shocked if it ends up winning “Fight of the Night,” and don’t be surprised if Couture ends up pulling off the major upset. And what a story that would be.
UFC on FUEL TV 9 is due to take place on April 6, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
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