One To Watch: Ross Pearson vs. Chad Laprise

It's difficult not to get excited when you hear the UFC is returning to Brisbane—yet the organization has only ever had one show in the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland.

Mark Hunt and dancing partner Antonio "Big Foot" Silva simply stole the show last time around with a five-round heavyweight war—what I like to dub "The Battle of Brisbane" —which ended in a majority draw for the pair, before being declared a No Contest for Silva following his failed drugs test.

The "Super Samoan" Hunt will be returning to his old stomping ground on Saturday night when he takes on submission specialist Frank Mir in what has the makings of a fantastic spectacle. But, once again, the UFC has loaded the undercard with some great fights.

However, it's clear what fight is set to send pulses racing on the undercard. This week's UFC Fight Pass "main event" sees brawling Brit Ross Pearson's take on crafty Canuck Chad Laprise in a battle of The Ultimate Fighter winners.

Originally slated to fight American Abel Trujillo, Pearson will now face off against Laprise on just nine days' notice following Trujillo's late injury. Laprise was originally scheduled to fight Alan Patrick at the same event, so there is no danger of either fighter not being in shape in time for Saturday night.

"The Real Deal" Pearson has endured an indifferent, inconsistent run in his recent UFC career. Two solid wins over Paul Felder and Sam Stout are punctuated by losses to New Yorker Al Iaquinta, Evan Dunham and his most recent opponent in Francisco Trinaldo.

Pearson is perhaps a victim of his own success in carving out a flourishing career being a crisp yet fearsome striker. Stunning knockout victories over the likes of Ryan Couture and George Sotiropoulos have made opponents more than wary of the punching power of Pearson, leading to the opposition trying their best to nullify his biggest weapons by taking the fight to the ground to stall out a decision victory with a smothering, wrestling-based attack—case in point with the aforementioned losses against both Dunham and Trinaldo.

Pearson's loss to Trinaldo only occurred back in January. Angered by the nature of his defeat in Boston, Massachusetts, this has been a quick turnaround for the Sunderland native and it's clear the Trinaldo loss still plays on his mind. Speaking to James Edwards, Pearson said: "The way Trinaldo approached the fight was just a bad way of fighting. He ran the whole fight, tried to use his kick to keep it at range and he just didn't want to get involved. I think he felt my power in the first round, I clipped him with my left and he didn't want anything to do with that anymore.

"He approached the fight like a coward. I wouldn't be proud of that win if it was on my record like that. Who wants to see that? No one will ever pay to watch that. No one remembers that Francisco Trinaldo beat Ross Pearson in Boston."

Trinaldo is actually an opponent in common for both Pearson and Laprise. "Massaranduba's" last victory prior to Pearson was a TKO win over Canadian Laprise, shocking his opponent's countrymen in attendance in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Much like Pearson, Laprise also took that aforementioned loss to heart, but for different reasons. His loss to the Brazilian was his first in his MMA career which is enough to devastate any professional fighter—so much so that Laprise opted to take some time away from the sport to gather his thoughts before plotting his return to the Octagon.

Talking to MMAjunkie, Laprise said of his first loss: "You know, I was definitely heartbroken for a few days after. Then, I realized life goes on, you pick yourself up and it'll definitely make you better.

"It was probably the best thing I ever did, taking some time off, sitting on it, thinking about it and working hard. I think the timing on it now is about perfect. I'm 100 percent ready and I'm really hungry to fight. Before that fight I was a little burnt out I think. Now I've got that hunger back."

With the obvious disruptions caused by a last-minute change in opponent, both men utilised social media to mutually conspire to try and avoid their weight cut to the lightweight limit of 155lbs by fighting at welterweight's 170lbs limit instead. Laprise did fight as a welterweight on his series of TUF, after all. However, UFC's chief matchmaker Joe Silva soon quashed any thoughts of a makeshift stint at 170lbs a la Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz.

Chad Laprise's well-rounded skill set and general toughness makes him a dangerous proposition for much of the lightweight division as he attempts to clamber up the UFC rankings. On the other hand, Pearson is a formidable striker and is now a 19-fight veteran of the UFC, becoming a certified fan favourite with his uncompromising in the cage in the process.

Both styles are interesting and are enough to captivate the general MMA audience. But, a key storyline component to this fight is the fact both fighters are coming off devastating losses to the same man: Francisco "Massaranduba" Trinaldo. How have both fighters coped with their post-loss emotions travelling the spectrum from heartbreak to anger—to devastation to frustration?

However way you dress it, this is an exciting, must-see fight—perfect fodder for the UFC's ongoing push to draw eyes to its Fight Pass streaming service.