UFC on FX 4 Friday, June 22, 2012 at 9 p.m. (ET) on FX Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey Ross Pearson (-230) Profile: Pearson (13-5) saw a fast start to his UFC career by winning The Ultimate Fighter 9 lightweight tournament and following it up with a 3-2 lightweight record. After weighing his options, the 27-year-old Brit decided to make the cut to featherweight at UFC 141 against Junior Assuncao and did so successfully with a decision win. Now, with less of a size disadvantage against his opponents, he can focus on what he does best, which is putting on entertaining fights. The always-exciting Pearson has won two Fight of the Night awards and utilizes a varied offense of boxing mixed with judo. Cub Swanson (+180) Profile: Former WEC featherweight title contender Swanson (16-5) had a pretty good run in the WEC leading up to a title shot loss against Jose Aldo. Since then, the 28-year-old California native has seen mixed results with a 3-3 mark, including 1-1 in the UFC. Swanson suffered a frustrating submission loss to Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FOX 1, but he successfully rebounded with an incredible knockout of George Roop at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago. He is a very entertaining fighter who won Fight of the Night in the WEC three times before the company was absorbed by the UFC. Swanson is a complete mixed martial artist trained by Greg Jackson and can finish the fight standing or on the ground. Opening MMA Odds Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas has installed Pearson as the -230 favorite (bet $230 to win $100) while Swanson opened as a +180 underdog (bet $100 to win $180) according to the MMA odds. Pearson’s move to featherweight looks like it has been a great benefit for him so far, but Swanson will pose a tough test. Much like the Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher bout, this matchup could be a Fight of the Night candidate between two young fighters who want to put on a show. Both are equally good with their striking and submission skills and would obviously prefer to finish the other off rather than go to a decision. In 39 career bouts between them, the judges have decided just 12 of them. However, Pearson has been the more patient of the two, with four of his past five ending in decisions, which could be the difference.
