TUF 9: Dollar making it big in the United States team
They didn't show it on the TV programme in the last episode of TUF, but we actually flipped coins to see who would fight next between myself and Stapes (Martin Stapleton) against the American team-member Cameron Dollar.
We were both raring to go and Mike Bisping couldn't pick between us. Stapes won the coin toss. The matches were already picked at that time. The winner of the coin toss was always going to fight Cameron Dollar.
Stapes was 100 per cent ready to go and I was 100 per cent confident in him. He was doing well in training, was unbelievably fit, unbelievably strong and ready to destroy the competition.
Everyone gets nervous before a fight and obviously Cameron was no different. I suffer nerves before my fights, of course, but not to the extent that Cameron suffers. I heard in the house that Cameron gets really nervous about fighting and you could see that from just watching the episode back. Given everything that I was hearing in the house, I really expected Stapes to go out there and dominant. It seemed like a really good and win-able fight for him at the time.
From a personal point of view, I just try and stay as relaxed as I can before a fight. I have a little bit of nerves and excitement going round my body, but I just try to chill out. I don't suffer anything like Cameron does before a fight. He seemed to have some genuine worry of competing. I didn't see the point of getting scared at a time like that. We all knew what we were there to do and Cameron was just like the rest of us.
As for the fight itself, I was very surprised to see how Cameron handled Stapes. I expected Stapes to be much stronger and fitter than him in there, but Cameron was a surprise on the ground and finished Stapes well.
There was definitely a little lull in our team sprits after that defeat. Stapes was a big character and he was involved in a fight that we all expected him to win. It was a big shock to the system when he lost. After that defeat it was all about putting it behind us and getting the next victory.
Moving on, I was really confident with James (Wilks) in a ground fight with Frank (Lester). I knew that we'd come away with another win if James could drag Frank down and submit him. James has got some unbelievable grappling and jiu-jitsu skills.
From what I'd heard and seen, Frank didn't look to be the most efficient grappler. The only thing that I was worried about in that fight was James getting caught with a big shot in the stand-up. As it happened, James dealt with the stand-up really well.
Even though he comes across a bit crazy on television, Frank was actually one of my best friends from the American team. I spoke to Frank quite a lot in the house and I actually still speak to him a lot now we're back at home. I think Frank is being portrayed a little differently on television to how he actually was in the house. I got on with him really well. He's even offered to take me out to the States and train with him out there.
As for the fight itself, I was surprised that James managed to hang so well on his feet with Frank. I think Frank was too worried about getting taken down and that's why he was constantly on the back-foot and unwilling to commit. Frank's a very strong and tough customer and it was impressive to see James deal with him in the manner he did. James is a really sharp fighter with quick hands and good feet. As soon as it went to the ground the fight was pretty much over…
Watch Ross Pearson's bid to win a six-figure contract with the UFC on The Ultimate Fighter: Team USA v Team UK, Episode 6 on Virgin 1, Sunday, 11pm
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