UFC on ESPN 12 live blog: Mike Perry vs. Mickey Gall

This is the UFC on ESPN 12 live blog for Mike Perry vs. Mickey Gall, the lightweight co-headliner for Saturday’s fight card at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.

Perry returns after the first knockout loss of his UFC career in a fight against Geoff Neal, while Gall is going for two in a row after a decision over Salim Touahri put him back in the win column.

Check out the UFC on ESPN 12 live blog below.

Round 1: Keith Peterson is the third man in the cage tonight. Perry comes out pressuring and Gall is on his bike, firing straight shots to keep the distance. Gall has the high guard and seems content to stand striking and wait for his opportunity. Perry lands a good front kick. Gall lands a STRONG body kick and Perry charges forward and forces a clinch, pressing Gall to the cage. Gall reverses ad the two separate. Gall’s striking is honestly looking pretty good and he’s opened a small cut over Perry’s eye. A sharp right hand from Gall lands. Perry is having trouble finding the distance but steps in with a big left hook that stuns Gall for a moment. Gall is undeterred though and throws back. Gall shoots his first takedown but Perry denies it easily. This is by far the best Gall has looked in the UFC. Gall lands a body kick but Perry catches it, runs him to the cage, and then lands a high amplitude suplex! Now Perry has hooks in and back control! This is shocking. Gall attempts to reverse the position but Perry rolls with him and has mount! Gall creates some space and now Perry is landing some good ground and pound from standing position. An unexpected and exciting round.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Gall.

Round 2: Shamefully, ESPN did not show us the corner work from Perry’s side. Perry comes out pressuring again but then takes a few steps back. Gall goes for a jumping knee that misses and now Perry is throwing more kicks. A minute in, Gall gets deep in on a single-leg attempt and somehow Perry just won’t let him finish it. Now Perry has control against the cage and Gall has a soft guillotine attempt. Perry is able to get his neck out and ow Perry is in full guard and looking to land shots. Gall rolls for an armbar but gets no traction and now Perry is landing some heavier shots. Perry passes to half-guard but Gall hits a nice kimura sweep and Perry scrambles to turtle and then stands, with Gall on his neck. Perry gets all the way up and Gall drops for a double leg but Perry uses a kimura grip counter and the two are stalled against the fence. Gall switches to a single-leg and Perry limp-legs out. Somehow, improbably, Gall is winning the striking and Perry is winning the grappling. Oh, well nevermind. Perry lands a huge right hand that drops Gall and has him in a world of hurt. Short time but Perry is on top and trying to finish it. Perry steps over into mount and lands a vicious elbow as the horn expires.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-8 Perry.

Round 3: Perry’s corner did not provide much advice during the break, though he doesn’t need much. Gall looks okay to start the round but now Perry is throwing in combination and a four-piece lands and has Gall shelling up. Gall is definitely looking tired now but he’s still throwing with pop. The problem for Gall is he’s getting predictable and Perry is starting to counter him. Also, Gall doesn’t seem to be able to hurt Perry. Gall’s hands are hanging low now and this could be dangerous. Gall shoots a weak takedown but is stuffed and Perry is now marching him down relentlessly. Gall is exhausted and Perry is surging. Perry gets back control against the fence and Gall tries to gramby roll but Perry holds position and now is in top half-guard. Gall is just looking to hang on for the final 90 seconds. Perry steps over to top-crucifix and is beating up Gall now. Gall scrambles but Perry ends up in mount and Gall looks done. Perry postures up and lands somme big elbows. Gall is now just holding on but somehow sneaks out the backdoor. Perry is relentless though and Gall gets a triangle! He’s too tired to do anything though and Perry steps out and ends up in backmount to end the fight.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Perry, 29-27 Perry overall.

OFFICIAL DECISION: Mike Perry defeats Mickey Gall by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)