Ross Pearson has wasted no time in finding his next fight, and it’s a route you may not have expected. After a competitive loss vs. Will Brooks on last Friday’s TUF 23 Finale, Pearson is moving up to 170 for a UFC 201 showdown against Jorge Masvidal on July 30th. Pearson is replacing an ill Siyar Bahadurzada, who has since withdrawn from the Atlanta, Georgia pay-per-view event. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported the story on Wednesday.
Pearson (19-11) has already fought 3 times this year, winning a split decision over Chad Laprise, but losing to Francisco Trinaldo and the aforementioned Brooks.