British slugger and “The Ultimate Fighter 9” winner Ross Pearson (14-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC) admits he wasn’t exactly a skilled grappler when he started his UFC run. Now, however, Pearson believes his jiu-jitsu game is making strides, and it’s giving him confidence to throw his hands, as well.

“I really believe I’m in a great place right now, training at Alliance,” Pearson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “We have some of the best coaches. My jiu-jitsu, sometimes I went into fights and worried, ‘I’m not that good at jiu-jitsu. If this guy takes this down, I’m going to get submitted.’ But my jiu-jitsu is coming along.

“I’m not great at it, by any means, but it’s coming along nicely, and I’m a little bit more comfortable in these positions where normally I would freak out or panic. Now I’m getting more settled and relaxed and a little bit more confident in those areas.”

Pearson’s comfort showed in his December win over fellow “The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes” coach George Sotiropoulos in the headlining bout of UFC on FX 6. Returning to lightweight after a two-fight stint at 145 pounds, Pearson dominated his Australian rival on the feet and showed improved grappling defense while getting out of a tight spot in the opening round.

“I was ecstatic with the way I performed and the way I handled myself through the show, through the filming and with everything I had done on the show,” Pearson said. “The fight, I think the biggest thing was the growth. Me coming from ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ first fighting and then as a coach and then fighting in the main event. It’s a big growth in my career, and there’s exciting times ahead. I’m just looking forward to the future.”

That future looks bright if Pearson can continue to fight the way he did against Sotiropoulos. The 28-year-old has struggled to find consistency as of late, failing to put together back-to-back wins since 2010. But “The Real Deal” believes that’s all about to change as his work at California’s Alliance Training Center is paying real dividends.

“Coming from a boxing background and Thai-boxing background, the striking is a lot different,” Pearson said. “The range and timing and everything is a lot different. There’s a lot more aspects you’ve got be more open-minded about. You have to be a little bit more creative with your striking. I’m starting to find that rhythm in MMA where my striking is developing for MMA, not for going into a Thai-boxing fighting.

“That’s where I was kind of stuck at in my first few fights in the UFC. Although I was doing really well Thai-boxing, I was fighting a Thai-boxing fight. Now my striking is coming more towards an MMA style.”

Comfortable on the ground, comfortable on the feet. It’s a solid recipe for success, and Pearson believes he’s finally ready to set himself apart from the pack. His next challenge comes in the form of Strikeforce import Ryan Couture (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. The two serve as the co-main event of next month’s UFC on FUEL TV 9 event, which takes place April 6 at Stockholm’s Ericsson Globe Arena.

There were a few initial fan complaints about the matchup, as some observers believed Pearson deserved someone a little higher up the rankings. But Pearson said he’s thrilled to be facing Couture.

“I’m excited to fight Ryan,” Pearson said. “He’s coming over from Strikeforce. He’s an up-and-coming guy, and of course he’s a Couture. I’m a huge fan of his dad. I respect his family a lot. They made the sport what it is, really.

“Pearson vs Couture – I could only have dreamt of hearing that. But I’m excited to go out there, and it’s a fight I think I can perform all my skills, including the skills I’ve been developing. I can go out there and showcase what I can really do.”

Pearson opened his UFC career with three straight wins but has stumbled on occasion since. But now settled back at lightweight, Pearson feels he’s ready to turn a corner.

“I just need to keep that momentum going and stay active,” Pearson said. “It’s the first time in three years I’ve fought in Europe. I’m excited to come back and put on a great fight.”

For more on UFC on FUEL TV 9, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.