Event: UFC on FX 6 Matchup: George Sotiropoulos (-145) vs. Ross Pearson (+115) Location: Gold Coast, Australia Time: 9 p.m. (ET) on Friday, December 14, 2012 How to Watch: FX TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE Name: George Sotiropoulos MMA Record: 14-4 UFC Record: 7-2 Age: 35 Nationality: Australian Height: 5-10 Weight: 155 pounds Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Camp: American Top Team Strengths: BJJ, grappling, experience, home-town advantage Weaknesses: Chin, striking, coming off two losses in a row Last 5 Fights: L – Rafael dos Anjos (KO), L – Dennis Siver (UD), W – Joe Lauzon (SUB), W – Kurt Pellegrino (UD), W – Joe Stevenson (UD) Notable Career Wins: Lauzon (SUB), George Roop (SUB) Notable Career Losses: dos Anjos (KO), Siver (UD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Initiate grappling, get the fight to the ground 
TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Ross Pearson MMA Record: 13-6 UFC Record: 5-3 Age: 28 Nationality: British Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 pounds Style: Boxing, Taekwondo, Judo Camp: Alliance MMA Strengths: Striking, youth advantage, improving Weaknesses: Chin, submission defense, size Last 5 Fights: L – Cub Swanson (TKO), W – Junior Assuncao (UD), L – Edson Barboza (SD), W – Spencer Fisher (UD), L – Cole Miller (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Dennis Siver (UD), Fisher (UD) Notable Career Losses: Swanson (TKO), Cole Miller (SUB) Notable Career Achievements: Won “The Ultimate Fighter” Season Nine Keys to Victory: Keep the fight on the feet and look for Sotiropoulos’ chin FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET TUF Smashes coaches Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos tango Down Under in the five-round main event of UFC on FX 6, which takes place in Sotiropoulos’ home country of Australia. The high-level BJJ black belt is fighting for the first time in nearly 18 months, as he hasn’t competed since a July 2011 KO loss to Rafael dos Anjos. After going 0-2 in 2011 after a 7-0 run to start his UFC career, Sotiropoulos is in a must-win situation in this fight, and he needs to put it to his British counterpart and prove that he’s still a contender in the UFC lightweight division. Pearson moves back up to lightweight for this fight after a so-so 1-1 run as a featherweight. Having defeated Junior Assuncao in his 145-pound debut, Pearson made the move back up to 155 after a TKO loss to Cub Swanson at UFC on FX 4, and he badly needs to get back on the horse by beating Sotiropoulos and proving he’s still relevant in the UFC. Both Pearson and Sotiropoulos were at arms with each other on the television show, so there’s no shortage of motivation for either man to finish one another, and in a five-round bout, that’s quite likely. Adam’s Fight Prediction: Ross Pearson will stuff George Sotiropoulos’ poorly telegraphed takedowns and put the hurt to him on the feet, finishing his opponent off with a second-round TKO. Adam’s Pick: Ross Pearson (+115) via second-round TKO (click for latest MMA odds). Adam’s Recommended Play: Since it’s five rounds, I think it’s likely one guy gets finished, so look for the “fight doesn’t go the distance prop,” which is currently paying plus money. Other than that, I would probably stay away from this one because honestly, I don’t know if I trust Pearson’s takedown defense enough to bet him, although I do think he should win this fight.
