"It just resembles this camp -- it's been rough and I've had some knock backs. I've had to fight through it, you know. The very first kick I threw warming up, full shin, hit my coaches elbow. I just dropped to the floor because I knew I had hurt something. I was in full panic mode because I had really hurt something. That's what champions do, though, they fight through it. I listened to my corner who talked me through it, telling me to relax and calm down. When I got into the fight I really knew I had hurt something and I think I need an x-ray on this one. We trying everything -- icing it out, ironing out the bruising, taping it up -- just try and botch something together to make it work. I just fought through it."
-- Pre-fight warm up injuries can -- and do -- happen in mixed martial arts (MMA). Look no further than Kevin Randleman, who infamously slipped, fell and knocked himself out moments before he was scheduled to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title against Pedro Rizzo at UFC 24 back in 2000. Ross Pearson apparently had his own last-minute sweat scare, injuring his left foot -- and possibly breaking it -- before having to step inside the Octagon to battle Ryan Couture in the UFC on Fuel TV 9 co-main event earlier this afternoon (Sat., April 6, 2013). "Real Deal" spilled the beans on the FUEL TV post-event show, even showing off what appeared to be several purple piggy-wigglies. The good news is that the accident didn't appear to have any affect on his performance, a violent second round technical knockout finish, which coincidentally was set up with a (right) kick to the midsection of the Strikeforce import. UFC President Dana White, who had to endure the last-minute scratch of Alexander Gustafsson, is more than likely beyond relieved that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 winner sucked it up and competed. Anything less would have been a complete and utter disaster. For more on the Lightweight scrap between Ross Pearson vs. Ryan Couture at UFC on FUEL TV 9 click here and here.
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