UFC 161's Sean Pierson knows retirement looms – but not just yet

At 37, Canadian Sean Pierson is growing into comfort inside the octagon. Now, he needs to get moving before he hangs up his gloves.

“Everybody is struggling for me to chase my dream, and I can’t be selfish forever,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m going to have to end that soon.”

The end is not near, Pierson (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) cautioned. He’s still got plenty of fights left in him, including his next, a meeting with fellow welterweight and injury replacement Kenny Robertson (12-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 161, which takes place Saturday at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Pierson, nearly a former cop before his fighting career caused complications, is realistic about risk and reward, and he admits he’s closer than ever to the point where he needs to find a job that’s more stable for his family.

Also one that won’t keep him away so many hours of the day.

“Start letting my son get the spotlight, and even put my wife in the spotlight … she’s a beautiful woman,” Pierson said. “I’ve had my moment. I’ve had my moment, and I’m not done yet. But when it’s done, I’ll step right out of it.”

As for what he’ll do in the next chapter of his life, he’d love to stay in the sport as a trainer or commentator. But he’s also open to the idea of becoming a police officer again.

Pierson got a job with the Toronto force, but never started the job because the agency wouldn’t let him pursue his burgeoning MMA career while walking the beat.

“I don’t think the door’s ever fully been closed on me,” he said. “There’s different forces, too. I think someone would be willing to grab me. It’s just one of those things where I have to put all my chips on the table, because I do bring more to the table than I did three years ago.”

Back then, Pierson was a guy scrapping it out on the local Canadian fight circuit. His record was good, but not stellar. Then the UFC came calling, and his career took off.

Pierson won his debut impressively against Matt Riddle at UFC 124. Despite back-to-back losses, the promotion kept him around because of his aggressive fighting style. The investment paid off, as he’s won his past two outings.

“Right now, I’m coming into my comfortability in the octagon,” he said. “People always say it’s first-time jitters. For me, it was for a while. I had to understand I belonged in the UFC, and now I feel I belong. I’m not questioning it. I’m going to go out and perform now.”

Pierson was scheduled to meet T.J. Waldburger before an injury nixed the matchup, but said he isn’t sweating the switch. Robertson is coming off a recent “Submission of the Night” win over Brock Jardine that was his first victory inside the octagon.

“I try my best not to care, because it’s happened to me a bunch of times,” Pierson said. “I try to focus on myself now, rather than focus on my opponent. I just try to worry about myself.”

He’s only got so much time to do so.

“I want to be one of those Canadian fighters that gets a fight on all the Canadian cards,” he said. “One, it’s better for taxes. Two, it’s just my home fan base. When I was down in Florida, it’s not like I didn’t feel love. But I definitely didn’t feel the love I felt in Toronto or Montreal.

“I’m hoping to feel that love (Saturday) in the MTS Centre.”

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