UFC 226 live blog: Paul Felder vs. Mike Perry

This is the UFC 226 live blog for Paul Felder vs. Mike Perry, a welterweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Felder, a lightweight, is stepping up on short notice to replace an injured Yancy Medeiros. He has won three consecutive bouts, all by knockout.

“The Irish Dragon” fights Perry, who has lost two straight bouts, on the main card.

Check out the UFC 226 live blog below.

Round 1: Marc Goddard the referee for this bout. Felder lands leg kicks, but Perry catches him with a glancing punch. Both men appear to have cuts at the top of their heads, possibly from an accidental head butt. They clinch up and jostle for position against the cage. Perry doing a good job of not letting Felder land his dangerous elbows. He fires one of his own, then scores with an uppercut inside. They separate. Perry scoring with a kick to the oblique, then one to the body. Perry throws a 1-2 with the right hand landing clean. Short elbow by Perry inside, Felder answers with a spinning back elbow. Counter right connects for Perry. Felder trying to use his jab to stay on the outside, but Perry is staying close enough to threaten with power punches. Jab works for Felder, but he takes another counter-punch. Perry muscles Felder back against the cage. They break and Perry hits Felder with an elbow. Spinning back fist by Perry partially connects, Felder responds with the exact same technique.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Perry.

Round 2: Perry blocks a high kick. He scores with a punch to the body, then Felder kicks Perry’s body. Leg kick by Felder and Perry looks for a takedown. He picks Felder up into the air drops him to the mat with a nice slam. Felder scrambles out and is quickly back on his feet. Inside elbow by Perry lands and they get back into striking distance. Counter right by Felder lands clean. Perry’s output has slowed, he walks right into a Felder jab. Leg kick by Felder. He’s finding success with that technique. Felder with an elbow to the face now. Perry finally throws a strike and it’s a big left hook that opens up a big cut on the right side of Felder’s face. They’re set back into the clinch position they were in. Perry gets Felder’s back and attempts a German suplex. It’s not clean, but he does drag Felder to the mat. Felder gets up, but he is taking damage as he stands. He’s a bloody mess heading into the final round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Perry. Overall 20-18, Perry.

Round 3: Left hook by Perry and he is head hunting now. Felder looks to clinch and Perry shoves him off. That left hook is money for Perry. Counter-elbow scores for Felder. Then a spinning back kick to the body. Felder with a knee to the body. Jab by Perry backs Felder off. Perry steps in and hits a big right hand right on Felder’s chin. Body punch by Felder lands. Takedown attempt by Perry, he’s working a single leg. He can’t get the slam, but manages to slip around to Felder’s back, the two fighters against the fence. Knees to the thigh by Perry. They separate with 30 seconds to go. They’re trading shots to close this one out, both having success. Excellent back-and-forth fight.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Felder. Overall 29-28, Perry.

Official result: Mike Perry def. Paul Felder via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)