By Adam Martin
HAMILTON, Ont. — Jordan Mein may not be the only Score Fighting Series fighter who gets a contract offer from the UFC.
Jesse Ronson, a teammate of UFC fighters Sam Stout and Mark Hominick at the Adrenaline Training Center in London, Ont., defeated tough-as-nails veteran Ryan Healy via unanimous decision in the co-main event of Score Fighting Series 7 Friday night at Hamilton Place Theatre.
But it wasn’t just the fact he beat the gritty Healy, it’s the manner in which he did it.
For three rounds, Ronson battered and bruised Healy all over the ring, throwing body shots, punches, and high kicks right to the head of Healy. If it wasn’t a Healy that Ronson was facing, the fight would have been over in the first round, but Ryan Healy, just like his more well-known brother Pat Healy, has an incredible chin and is very, very difficult to stop. So Ronson getting the decision win should be enough to make him happy.
But is it enough for UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to come calling? I think so.
Now 12-2 in his MMA career, the 26-year old Ronson is currently riding a seven-fight win streak that includes wins over Healy, Alex Ricci, Tony Hervey and Jason Saggo, and the only losses are to “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 16 participant Mike Ricci as well as Lindsey Hawkes, who has fought some of the toughest fighters on the Canadian regional circuit. There really is no one else left for Ronson to fight in Canada, so it’s time for him to go the UFC.
Unfortunately for the skilled striker, he’s small for the 155-pound weight class, as was evidenced in the size difference he had in the cage with Healy. That will be a problem in the UFC, where there are massive wrestlers in their lightweight division who cut from 180 pounds and upwards to make the 155-pound weight limit. Ronson needs to do everything he can to make 145 pounds, or else he risks getting taken down and grounded by bigger fighters in the UFC. But of course, if he can keep any fight he’s in standing, he’ll always have a shot of winning.
After the bout, Ronson said his Christmas wish was to get the call from the UFC, and talking to several people in the know at the event, the UFC was most definitely keeping an eye on Ronson Friday night. So him defeating a veteran like Healy was huge. With an expanded schedule for the UFC coming up in 2013 and roster spots needing to be filled, don’t be surprised if Ronson is a part of it.
As for potential fights for the young Canadian in the UFC, there are tons of interesting matchups for him if he stays at 155 or goes to 145. At 155 I think matchups with guys like Mitch Clarke or Mac Danzig would be good first tests. And at 145, I think fights with Cole Miller and Maximo Blanco would be fun. Regardless, there are lots of fights out there for Ronson, but he first needs to get his name inked to a UFC contract.
The Score Fighting Series has produced UFC-calibre fighters in the past and will continue to do so as long as the promotion sticks around. Ronson is just one of the many talented fighters who has used SFS to help propel him to the next chapter of his career, and after last night’s performance against Healy, there’s no doubting he’s deserving of competing with the best fighters in the world.
Adam Martin has blogged for theScore.com and is a regular contributor to Sportsnet.ca’s MMA section. Follow him on Twitter @MMAdamMartin.
