By Jim Edwards

Bellator MMA champions look away now. 

Ross Pearson is slated to face former Bellator MMA lightweight champion 'Will Brooks next week, and he was hardly forthcoming with praise when it came to talking about the American's career achievements to date. 

"To be honest, I've not seen too much of him, I saw his fights with Michael Chandler but that's it," Pearson said. "I know he's athletic, strong, fit, explosive and pretty much well rounded, but I think he's been competing against lower level guys and he's had everything his own way in there.  

"Next Thursday night we are going to find out whether he can do that in the UFC. I don't lay down for no one, I don't give up to no one and believe you me I'm in there to fight. He better realise that there is no quit in me, there is no way of breaking me. If he hits me with a good shot and it doesn't put me to sleep, then I'm gonna get right back in his face and hit him with five or ten more back before he can reply. He better realise quickly this is a different level of competition."

Pearson then stepped it up a notch and elaborated more on Brooks' credentials. The man from the North East of England was adamant that the American newcomer was in for a big reality check when he enters the Octagon next Friday evening.   

"Everything he has, I have an answer for," Pearson said defiantly. "I've seen it all before and I don't think this guy has at all, nothing even close. I'm excited to go in there and prove to the world that I am one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. 

"All the expectations are on Will because all his questions remain unanswered. He's a zero right now, everything he's done in the past means nothing because he's not been in the UFC. The UFC is the main stage. I've won titles in other organizations before and no one ever talks about them. Why is that? Because it's not a big deal, it means nothing. 

"Until it's proven in the UFC, on the main stage on the biggest stage in the world it's nothing; your history is nothing," he added. "You start in the UFC at 0-0 and that's truly when your career starts."

A clearly fired up Pearson sounded more motivated than ever to achieve his ambitions of surging up the lightweight rankings and after enduring a start-stop year and a half of trading wins and losses, he said that this was his time to finally show his true potential.



"The last year and a half has definitely been up and down and I admit that," Pearson said. "I know why, I've had some health issues that I don't really want to go into because I don't want to make excuses and say that's why I lost fights. 

"I've figured it out now and I'm healthy, I'm motivated and I feel like I'm back to the old me. It's going to be back to the 'old Ross Pearson', the 'healthy Ross Pearson', the guy who is focused and has a never say died attitude."

Despite his aforementioned health problems, Pearson has been one of the most active fighters on the roster in the past twelve months with a record only surpassed by the likes of 'Cowboy' Cerrone. 

Pearson is now focused on getting some of the bigger names in the lightweight division and he's prepared to be a little patient to get the fights that he wants. 

"This is my fifth fight in a year and I feel better when I consecutively keeping fighting," Pearson said. "I stay healthy, I stay lean and I stay in fight shape so I definitely want to keep getting the fights in.

"I want guys who have names, I want guys who bring the fight and guys who want to be the best in the world. I want to fight the names that the fans get excited about and I want to fight the names who get me excited. The bigger the name, the higher the opportunity, the more exciting it's going to be for me and that's when I shine."

Next Friday it's all about Brooks though and Pearson gave out a stark warning to both him and the UFC lightweight division.

"I can't wait to get in there and take this guy out," Pearson said confidently. "I honestly feel like I'm back and I can feel the fight burning up inside of me. We are getting so close to the fight now and I'm so excited to get in there and get the job done."