Mike Perry got back in the win column with a big decision win over jiu-jitsu ace Mickey Gall in the UFC on ESPN 12 co-main event.
The co-main event of UFC on ESPN 12 was a traditional striker versus grappler affair with one very non-traditional fighter. Mike Perry said all the wrong things heading into the fifth and final Vegas card before the UFC headed off to Fight Island next month. His training included trips to Universal Studios, anime sessions, and eating out. He’d turfed his coaches, opting to run his own training camp ahead of his fight with Mickey Gall.
In his corner would be only his girlfriend, 22-year old Latory Gonzalez. It felt like a bad take on Diego Sanchez’s single-corner experiment. Perry came in pressing forward looking for two big hooks that missed. Gall was backed up against the cage but was able to get off a leg kick. Perry responded with a leg kick of his own, followed by a front kick to the body. A hard kick to the body landed for Gall, and the pair clinch up.
They separated after a knee to the body and elbow from Gall. Gall connected with a nice right hand, and he followed up with another. Gall then connected with a big lead left hook, but Perry fired back with a big right hand of his own. Gall landed two nice jabs, but perry cracked him back with another right hand. A big kick to the body connected for Gall, but Perry caught it and got a big slam takedown on Gall. Perry worked to get the back but after a scramble ended up on top of Gall in half guard. After a bit, Perry decided to posture up, but couldn’t land any significant ground-and-pound as the round ended.
The second round began with a head kick from Perry just being blocked. Gall responded with a kick to the body and a flying knee. Gall stepped away from a Perry kick and countered with a left hook. Perry then stuffed a takedown attempt from Gall, to which Perry responded by going for a takedown of his own against the cage, and got it.
Perry established top control in Gall’s closed guard, but Perry stood up and unleashed some good ground-and-pound on Gall. Gall used a kimura to sweep but Perry exploded to his feet. Perry was too strong for Gall’s attempt to drag him down. Perry finally shrugged Gall off of him but ate a 1-2 combination shortly after. Gall stepped forward with a right hand that landed, and Perry connected with a kick to the body. Perry then caught Gall with a huge hook that dropped him, before pouncing on Gall for full mount. He ended the round with two huge elbows.
The third and final round began with some feints from Perry, and Gall responding with a leg kick. Perry stepped forward and connected with some clean uppercuts. After eating some shots to the body, Gall attempted to press forward but couldn’t land anything. Perry continued to press forward and land stinging blows. Another big right hand from Perry connected, and Gall’s fatigue slowly began to show.
More stiff shots from Perry continued to land clean. Gall attempted to roll but Perry caught him and ended up on top of him in half guard. Perry established the crucifix position for a moment, but couldn’t hold it. Full mount for Perry, who postured up and began delivering some more nasty ground-and-pound. Gall exploded out from under Perry, locked in a triangle choke attempt, but Perry easily escaped it. The round ended with Perry again mounted on Gall.
Official Result: Mike Perry def. Mickey Gall via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
