Exclusive: UFC 134 pre-fight interview with Ross Pearson *VIDEO*

Reporting for ProMMAnow.com and Fist-ta-Cuff Radio, Isaac Guzman recently caught up with Englishman Ross Pearson at Alliance Training Center in San Diego, Calif., where he has been training for his upcoming fight with Edson Barboza which takes place this Saturday, Aug. 27, at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Pearson shares his thoughts on the UFC-FOX Sports partnership, feels it will help take the sport to the next level and hopes to fight on one of the FOX-televised cards.

Pearson realizes he is going to be the “bad guy” against Barboza because he is fighting him in his home country, and although he admits it will be different than what he is used to, he is looking forward to it. As far as his game plan against Barboza, Pearson wants to “get in his face and make him work nonstop”. He feels his conditioning is better and does not feel Barboza will be able to keep up with his pace.

Pearson said he has taken a beating during this camp from all the great fighters at Alliance, he came to America, away from friends and family and wants to make Barboza pay for what he has gone through to prepare for the fight. He goes on to explain the advantages of training with guys like Phil Davis, Alexander Gustafsson and Dominick Cruz and feels Alliance is the top camp in the sport right now.