UFC Vegas 4: Poirier vs. Hooker: Perry vs. Gall Preview

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1188 days ago

The co-main event of the fourth UFC Las Vegas card features two fighters with a few similarities. Mickey Gall and Mike Perry are welterweights aspiring to ascend to the top of the division. Both are hindered with feverish runs (Gall winning three of his last five and Perry two out said stretch). Both are not ones to mince their words. Finally, Mike and Mickey start with an “M”…how about those mangos??? Mangos work better here, since they start with an “M”, just like Mike and Mickey…okay, enough with the Count Dracula inspired editorial.

Breaking even thus far at 6-6 in his UFC career, Perry looks to spark a run that will comfortably place him above .500. Gall, meanwhile, continues to strive towards establishing himself as a formidable foe at 170 pounds.

The Gall of Mickey

Just as Ronda Rousey’s bread and butter was the judo toss/arm bar combination, Mickey Gall is going to get a win via rear naked choke. In fact, his last win against Salim Touahri, is the first decision win of his professional career. Couple that with gradually improving striking, there’s no reason for Gall to think he can’t ascend to the next level of the welterweight ladder. Just ask him…he’ll tell you the same!

Perry Pursuing Platinum

Geoff Neal, Vicente Luque, Donald Cerrone, Alex Oliviera, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Paul Felder are just a few of the dawgs that Mike “Platinum” Perry have shared the octagon with. In that campaign, he’s 2-4. He has the grit to compete with some of UFC’s best, but he can’t quite turn the corner into winning territory. Such experience gives Perry needed to scrap with the best of them, but he is in dire need of consistent notches in the right column.

Who Wins?

Mickey Gall has displayed his desire to become a better striker, which is a plus in a sport where being multifaceted is a plus. The unfortunate side of being a work in progress is having to face an already progressive striker in Perry. If Perry can keep Gall at bay with continuous strikes, the less experience welterweight won’t be able to get Perry in his clutches. If for some reason Gall can get Perry in his clutches, Perry needs to morph into octopus mode and contort his body in ways that’ll make another rear naked choke difficult to secure. I’ll take Perry letting his hands go, giving Gall his second knockout loss of his professional career.

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