UFC on Fox 26: Santiago Ponzinibbio decisions Mike Perry after bloody three-round war

Santiago Ponzinibbio and Mike Perry collided tonight (Sat., Dec. 16, 2017) at UFC on FOX 26 in a Welterweight showdown inside Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Both men were well-positioned to climb the welterweight ladder with a win; Ponzinibbio in particular had won five straight.

Ponzinibbio stayed mobile to start the bout. Perry kicked him to the body. Perry threw a right hand to the body, ate a hard leg kick. Perry ate a jab, moved forward, threw his right, missed. Ponzinibbio landed another low calf kick, barely avoided a right hand in return. Ponzinibbio came in off balance, and a Perry right hand had him on the mat for a second. Perry missed an uppercut, then landed a short hook. Perry had Ponzinibbio hurt for a second with a well-timed right hand. When he darted in to take advantage, Ponzinibbio spun and somehow had Perry on his back with a takedown. Perry got right back up. They both were landing shots, Perry stalking forward, Ponzinibbio staying mobile.

Perry came out trying some weird kicks, then jabbed with Ponzinibbio. He caught the kick of Santiago and landed a right hand. Ponzinibbio landed a calf kick, then had a body kick caught again but warded off the bodylock. Perry landed a hard hook and stalked in, dragging him to the floor with a bodylock. Santiago got back up; Perry ate a one-two. Ponzinibbio and Perry are difficult to tell apart in the cage, two tatted, bearded heavy-handed dudes with mohawks. Ponzinibbio caught Perry with a combination and swung away, but Perry hung in the pocket and warded him off. Ponzinibbio hurt Perry again with a left hook and followed him to the fence. Perry grinned savagely and worked his way to the center of the Octagon. Ponzinibbio landed a backfist, then a left straight. He got Perry to the cage and teed off with a four-punch combination. Perry waded forward, looking almost drunk, but got Ponzinibbio to the cage and landed several hard shots of his own. Santiago circled off and managed to land another right straight before the bell ended. What a round!

Ponzinibbio came out swinging, slipped. They had each felt the other’s chin and were eager to find the off switch. Perry landed a couple hard body kicks. Ponzinibbio landed a hard leg kick, and this time it was Perry who spun for a backfist. Perry landed a hard right hand, but as he chased his advantage, Ponzinibbio landed a spinning backfist that caught him on one leg, dropping him! Ponzinibbio took top position, looking to land shots on a turtled Perry. When Perry worked his way back up, against the cage, Ponzinibbio took him down with a double. Perry got up again. Ponzinibbio landed another left hook, got Perry backed up on the cage, then shot in and took him right down. He passed into half guard, keeping Perry’s shoulders flat on the mat. Perry managed to find space to turn into Ponzinibbio and get his base under him. Ponzinibbio grabbed a headlock, but Perry managed to pick Ponzinibbio up. Santiago had him against the cage, landing hard straight shots and sneaking in a headkick! He backed up and waved his arms victoriously as the fight ended. What a cracking welterweight bout!

Ponzinibbio thanked UFC for the opportunity, saying that — as the No. 10-ranked Welterweight in the world — he wants the winner of tonight’s main event between Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos since Tyron Woodley would be out via shoulder injury.

Official result: Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Mike Perry via unanimous decision (29-28x3)

For complete UFC on Fox 26 results, including play-by-play, click here