Tim Means picks Mike Perry apart to a unanimous decision win
Tonight, November 21st the UFC returns to the Apex for the 4th straight week to present UFC 255, live on PPV.
In the main event of the evening, the flyweight title is on the line as Deiveson Figueredo defends his belt for the first time against rising star Alex Perez. Figueredo was originally supposed to face Cody Garbrandt, leaving Perez the opportunity of a lifetime
In the co-main event of the evening, Valentina Schevchenko puts her women’s flyweight title on the line against a massive underdog in Jennifer Maia.
In a welterweight bout, Tim “The Dirty Bird” Means steps in on short notice replacing Robbie Lawler against “Platinum” Mike Perry. Means is no stranger to taking short notice fights, as seen throughout his career. Means, coming off a win against Laureano Staropoli in August.
“Platinum” Mike Perry is coming off a one-sided victory over Mickey Gall in June. Perry, used to the spotlight, for good or bad, weighed in for this bout at 175.5, which was 4. 5 pounds over the agreed weight class. Perry will be fined 30% of his purse. However, Perry seems unfazed as he laughed off his financial punishment in a post-weigh-in interview.
Here is how the welterweight bout between Tim Means and Mike Perry went down at UFC 255, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here!
Round 1:
Both fighters waste no time getting to work engaging center-cage. Briefly feeling each other out with punches upstairs. Perry fires a hard leg kick and both fighters reset. Perry bullies Means against the cage and secures the takedown early. Perry immediately looks to pass. In the heat of the scramble, Means gives his back up and Perry looks for the rear-naked choke. Means is able to fend it off well, gets the reversal, and quickly stands. Means keeps Perry against the fence piecing together crisp punching combinations and finding his knee to cap off his combos. With seconds left in the round, Means utilizes his reach to string together multiple jabs to keep Perry at bay while scoring as the horn sounds.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Mike Perry. 10-9
Round 2:
Means starts popping his jab and finding his rhythm early. Landing a sting of jabs. Perry is mildly slowing his pace while loading up on his heavy hands. Means returns each of Perry’s single shots with 3-4 crisp punches to the face. Perry lands an overhand right behind Means’ ear that briefly wobbles “The Dirty Bird”. Means returns to the center of the cage and picks up where he left off, firing his sharply accurate punches from the outside with pinpoint precision.
MyMMANews scores round 2 for Tim Means. 10-9
Round 3:
Perry gets inside of Means quickly, sensing he needs this round to win the fight. “Platinum” presses Means against the fence, looking for a takedown. Means reverses him and gets back to what has been working. His jab, which has been proving to be the deciding factor in this contest. At the halfway point, both fighters threw caution to the wind, unloading on each other in the pocket for a brief slugfest. Perry’s face is a battered mess but he’s still in the fight throwing haymakers to try to finish the job. Means gets back on the outside and blitzes forward to score a takedown of his own. Perry was able to defend well. Means aborts the takedown attempt and resorts back to his crisp punching combinations finding their mark throughout the entire fight. Continuously landing his 1-2 combos as the clock winds down. In the final seconds, the two give the PPV fans what they paid for as they closed this amazing fight trading in the pocket.
MyMMANews scores round 3 for Tim Means. 10-9
Official Decision: Tim Means defeats Mike Perry via unanimous decision.
