Ross Pearson vs Cleuder "Junior" Assuncao
by Dr. Octagon, J.D.
Round 1-Junior gets the takedown, but Ross is sitting up against the cage. Ross up on one knee, Junior gets his back, but doesn’t do much and Pearson comes out swinging. The Brit is very strong at featherweight.
Ross blocks a headkick. Junior shoots and eats a knee. Pearson stalking Junior around the cage. Junior shoots again, but Ross is able to stuff it. Ross lands a leg kick. Junior is following Junior around the ring, neither fighter doing much damage.
Pearson 10-9 mainly based on octagon control.
Round 2-Junior gets a takedown, but Ross gets back up. Junior shoots again but doesn’t get anything. Junior goes for another takedown and Ross ends up on top. He lets Junior stand. Junior shoots and gets his takedown stuffed again. This fight stinks. Junior doesn’t seem to have any offensive tools besides weak takedowns.
Ross lands a nice left jab. Junior is hurt. Pearson following him around the ring looking to finish it, but Junior ties him up against the cage. Assuncao going for the takedown, but not able to do anything as Ross putts him down. Junior finally gets a takedown at the end of the round. But he isn’t able to do anything from the top as Ross lands elbows from the bottom and stands up. 10-9 Pearson.
Round 3-Pearson with the leg kick. Junior gets the takedown and gets Pearson’s back. Ross is able to stand up. Junior throws a punch and gets another takedown but Ross stands up again. Junior gets another takedown and Ross gets up again. Junior is landing some punches as Ross looks tired.
Junior goes for another takedown, but Ross is up again and coming forward. Ross lands a leg kick and hits Junior with a knee as he shoots. Ross has Junior up against the cage. The fighters separate, Pearson lands a head kick and a knee. Pearson trying to end it with thirty seconds left. Junior shoots, but doesn’t get anything.
I think I’ll give that one to Junior for all the takedown attempts, but Ross probably landed the better strikes. Could go either way. 10-9 Junior.
Judges score it 29-28 (twice) and 30-27 for Ross Pearson. Correct decision. The third could have gone either way, but I can see how Pearson could have won it.