Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Rockhold vs. Bisping’

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LIGHTWEIGHTS

Al Iaquinta (9-3-1, 4-2 UFC) vs. Ross Pearson (16-7, 8-4 UFC)

THE MATCHUP: A pair of peaking lightweights meets in what promises to be a strong contender for “Fight of the Night” honors. Englishman Pearson appears to have hit his stride after scoring knockouts in three of his four fights -- this does not count his no-contest with Melvin Guillard -- following his return to 155 pounds, the latest coming against Gray Maynard in August; meanwhile, Serra-Longo Fight Team product Iaquinta is looking for a signature win to put him in the top-15 conversation in the stacked lightweight division.

Pearson has evolved radically from the light-punching volume puncher of a few years ago. Where he was once extremely light on the balls of his feet, which aided his movement but limited his ability to get his weight behind his shots, his footwork is now much more flat-footed, which allows him to generate a great deal more power and forces his movement to be more efficient.

Pearson has always had excellent head movement in the pocket, but he ties it into his offense more, slinging vicious counter left hooks and right hands at close range. While he remains mostly a boxer, Pearson has also developed a solid kicking game, and he mixes up his striking with the occasional takedown to keep his opponents honest. He remains a top-notch defensive wrestler and competent positional grappler, and he works at a quick, pressuring pace.

Despite his wrestling base, Iaquinta, like Pearson, is mostly a boxer in the cage. The Ray Longo-trained fighter is more than competent, utilizing solid head movement, a sharp jab and body-head combinations punctuated by a vicious left hook to the liver. He has also improved his kicking game over his last several outings and throws beautiful, angled low kicks set up by those body-head punching combinations. He tends to use his wrestling more defensively than offensively, and his takedown defense has proven to be rock-solid against even very good wrestlers. While he is a solid grappler, Iaquinta has run into problems in scrambles and transitions, and he has been submitted on several occasions. That should not be a problem here, as Pearson has never attempted a submission in his UFC career. In sum, Iaquinta is a good athlete with pop in his hands, and he produces a great deal of offensive output.

BETTING ODDS: Pearson (-175), Iaquinta (+155)

THE PICK: Although they come from vastly different backgrounds, Pearson and Iaquinta are fairly similar fighters in terms of skill sets, their command of striking fundamentals, strike selection, preferred range and pace, which should make this an exciting, close-range boxing match with the occasional takedown attempt. I think, however, that Pearson is just a little bit better at not getting hit and has a better track record of throwing power punches in exchanges. Pearson by action-packed decision with a possibility of a late knockout is the pick.

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