[autotag]Tim Means[/autotag] overcame a difficult first round at UFC 255 and stormed back to pick up a decision victory over [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] on Saturday.
Means (31-12-1 MMA, 13-9 UFC) defeated Perry (14-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in a catchweight bout (Perry missed the welterweight limit).
The fight was part of the UFC 255 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.
Despite Perry and Means’ striking prowess, much of Round 1 took place on the ground. After a few striking exchanges, Perry dragged Means to the canvas and worked for a rear-naked choke. Means escaped and worked his way back to the feet.
In Round 2, the two welterweight fighters traded blows for the vast majority of the five minutes. Means utilized his crisp jab, which usually came in bunches. Perry had his moments, too, and landed a few big shots.
With the fight possibly tied entering Round 3, it was anyone’s fight. The two fighters stood in the pocket right in front of each other and traded blows until Means shot for a takedown. Perry, with his face busted up, defended successfully. Means took over in the second half of Round 3. As the clock wound down, both fighters chucked knuckles until the final horn.
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A winner of three of his past four, Means extended his winning streak to two. In his fight prior to UFC 255, Means won a unanimous decision over Laureano Staropoli.
Perry’s loss is his third in four fights. Prior to his win over Mickey Gall in June, Perry dropped back-to-back fights to Geoff Neal and Vicente Luque.
UFC 255 marked the first time Perry had competed since reportedly going to anger management and alcohol rehabilitation after a video of him involved in a bar altercation surfaced on social media. Shortly after the video went viral, Perry’s ex-wife Danielle Nickerson spoke to MMA Junkie and accused Perry of physically abusing her on multiple occasions. Perry denied any wrongdoing when he spoke to MMA Junkie on Wednesday.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 255 results include:
- Tim Means def. Mike Perry via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Katlyn Chookagian def. Cynthia Calvillo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Paul Craig def. Mauricio Rua via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:36
- Brandon Moreno def. Brandon Royval via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
- Joaquin Buckley def. Jordan Wright via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:18
- Antonina Shevchenko def. Ariane Lipski via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:33
- Nicolas Dalby def. Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Alan Jouban def. Jared Gooden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Kyle Daukaus def. Dustin Stoltzfus via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Sasha Palatnikov def. Louis Cosce via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:27
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