The main card festivities at UFC on ABC 2 opened with a fan-friendly booking that turned into an absolute kickboxing class from Daniel Rodriguez.
Like many of Mike Perry‘s previous fights, he is game as all heck but seems technically outmatched in the striking department. That was the case in the first round versus Rodriguez. Rodriguez worked off of a very nice jab and mixed up his attack from top to bottom. Eventually landing one-two combos often as the round went on. The heavy lean towards “D-Rod’s” striking advantages led Perry to go to his grappling as he did against Mickey Gall last June. Perry was able to control the rest of the round with it.
The second started with more of the same on the feet, but “Platinum” had more urgency in getting it to the mat this time around. However, Rodriguez quickly worked back to the feet where the technique gap continued for the last two minutes of the frame. Outside the short-lived takedown, Perry’s highlights in the second consisted of taking wallops from his opponent and showcasing maybe his greatest talent, of a cement chin.
By the third, the Los Angeles native was having none of the takedown efforts from a foe with a broken nose (again) and exhausted from being pummeled for three rounds. Kudos to the Floridian and his toughness, but Perry was completely routed for the majority of this unanimous decision loss. Perry has now lost four of his last five, but the UFC is unlikely to send him away since the promotion always leans in favor of crazy and tough members of the roster.
On the positive side, Rodriguez moves to 4-1 in the UFC and gets back to winning ways after a November loss to Nicholas Dalby. The 34-year-old is worthy of another name opponent in his next fight. Hopefully, it’s one that can offer more of a threat than Perry did.
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