Mike Perry vs. Daniel Rodriguez

Round 1
The main card begins with what should be a violent encounter at welterweight, when Perry (14-7, 7-7 UFC) tries to get back in the win column against “D-Rod” Rodriguez (13-2, 3-1 UFC). The latter walked out to DMX’s “What’s My Name” but the organization did not have the good sense to televise the only walkout tonight with a DMX track, moments after posting a memorial image for the recently passed rap icon. Both men sport exactly 11 finishes in their respective careers, and referee Mike Beltran will need to keep his head on a swivel for this potential banger. There is a glove touch before these two handle their business. Rodriguez scores a few leg kicks from the outside while Perry closes the distance, and “D-Rod” slings a head kick up quick. Perry eats it and responds with one to the body, before winging a right hand that catches Rodriguez on the brow. “Platinum” walks forward into a few punches, and he is not rattled when he throws a leg kick back. Rodriguez surprises Perry with a one-two, and there is already damage to Perry’s nose. Rodriguez gets off a leg kick, and Perry replies in kind. Perry eats a body kick and charges in to attack, landing a right hand as Rodriguez tries to roll with it. A huge leg kick is followed by a nasty one-two that rocks Perry, and Rodriguez does not go wild searching for a finish and keeps doing damage. Rodriguez sticks out several jabs and leg kicks, and a right hand sends Perry off-balance. Perry wings a right hand but comes up shy of the mark, as Rodriguez chips away at his lead leg. “Platinum” has a head kick blocked, and he backs off when Rodriguez chases after him with a pair of punches. Rodriguez stings him with another one-two and a huge inside leg kick, and Perry is flustered as he keeps taking shots. Rodriguez dings him with another one-two, and the leg kick has Perry take a funny step back. Perry throws a huge right hand that is well off the mark, and he shoots in for a takedown to lift Rodriguez in the air. Rodriguez defends with a guillotine choke off his back, and Perry is suddenly in trouble and scrambling wildly. Perry puts down heavy shoulder pressure to possibly set up a Von Preux choke as Rodriguez has not let go of his guillotine of his back. As Perry aims to pass guard, Rodriguez bails on the choke and gets him back to full guard. Perry advances to half guard as he lays on his opponent, and he frees a hand to try to drop down shots. The round ends before Perry can land anything of note.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 2
Rodriguez comes out confidently from his corner, and he walks into a leg kick as he lines up a punch. Rodriguez paws out a jab, and he ducks out of the way when Perry jumps at him with a superman punch. Rodriguez keeps jabbing, and he clacks Perry in the body with a kick. Perry throws back the same kick, so Rodriguez eats it and kicks the lead leg. Rodriguez puts a one-two on Perry’s jaw, and he snaps the head back with a few jabs. The two welterweights go kick for kick, as Rodriguez lands one and Perry try to pay him back. Rodriguez reaches out with a few more jabs and leg kicks, but steps in with a power punch that nearly allows him to get countered. Perry walks through the danger to grab hold of “D-Rod,” and he lands a body lock takedown to put the California native on his back. Rodriguez scoots to the fence and climbs back up without staying down for long, and he walks directly into a big right hand. Rodriguez takes it on the chin and keeps Perry at bay with a quick uppercut. Perry begins to throw wide, telegraphed strikes while Rodriguez is largely keeping them straighter, and his quicker strikes disrupt an advancing Perry. Rodriguez snaps out his jab and body kick as Perry has no answer, with the polarizing Floridian taking a one-two flush on the way out. Both men land clean left hands at the same time, and Perry is busted up on the side of his eyebrows as they trade bombs. Rodriguez has opened up a welt on the side of Perry’s head that is swelling quickly, and he targets the same spot with a barrage of punches. Perry throws single strikes back, but Rodriguez is able to answer with punches in bunches. Perry, who strides through the fire to get there, presses into the clinch to attempt a takedown. This time, Rodriguez rebuffs him and keeps his balance to the bell. When they separate, Perry’s nose appears two shades of Andrei Arlovski or Olaf Alfonso.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez

Round 3
Perry shows some major damage coming out of his corner, but he is ready to continue fighting without issue. He pushes the pace in the early going, throwing looping shots that Rodriguez is easily able to avoid. Rodriguez chops his lead leg down with a few kicks, and Perry resorts to single punches to the body and head to try to keep his distance. “Platinum” rushes out with a superman punch and a head kick, and neither connect squarely as Rodriguez is on him with a body kick and a left hand. Perry throws a right hand into a takedown attempt, and Rodriguez is able to bully him over and put Perry on his hindquarters for a moment. Perry powers back up, and he eats a right hand for his effort. “D-Rod” scores a crisp one-two and a low kick to punctuate the combination, and he gets off several big shots that Perry absorbs without issue. Perry tries to respond with a few leg kicks, and a big hook is way off the mark. Rodriguez clocks Perry with a left hand, and Perry’s chin holds up as he takes a one-two and another. Both land shots at the same time, and Rodriguez follows it with a left hook. Perry loads up on a few right hands that get Rodriguez’ attention, but Rodriguez is unconcerned as he lands a right over the top. When Perry aims a leg kick, Rodriguez cracks him with a trio of punches. Perry’s head is ripe for the taking, as Rodriguez tees off on him at close range. Rodriguez reaches in with long, straight punches that snap Perry’s head back repeatedly, and he breaks up his salvos with kicks low and high. Two big punches and a body kick come from Rodriguez, and Perry’s durability is about all that remains on display. Rodriguez smashes him in the face with a brutal one-two, and Perry’s face is a bloody mess as he cannot seem to make him pay. Rodriguez suddenly changes levels for a takedown attempt to keep Perry guessing, but the Floridian turns him around and presses him into the wire. After a brief clinch, Rodriguez drills Perry with a long chain of punches until the final bell. This was largely one-way traffic for the man known as “D-Rod,” who put on a show on the first fight of the ABC portion of the event.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez (30-27 Rodriguez)

The Official Result
Daniel Rodriguez def. Mike Perry via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)