The headlining prelim bout at UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil pits two grapplers against each other, as Vinny Magalhaes (10-6 MMA, 1-3 UFC) fights Anthony Perosh (13-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC). It's a fight that was requested by Perosh, agreed to by Magalhaes, and made official by the UFC, so hopefully these two light heavyweights deliver.
Both guys are coming off losses, with the latter having been knocked out in just 7 seconds. Magalhaes is regarded as a highly decorated BJJ standout, but that has not translated well to MMA thus far. The UFC 163 prelims air at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on FX, then after Dana White yells at you to buy the PPV, you'll watch the PPV at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.
How do these two stack up?
Magalhaes: 29 years old | 6'3" | 75" reach
Perosh: 41 years old | 6'3" | 75" reach
What have these two done recently?
Magalhaes: L - Phil Davis (UD) | W - Igor Pokrajac (SUB) | W - Mikhail Zayats (TKO)
Perosh: L - Ryan Jimmo (KO) | W - Nick Penner (TKO) | W - Cyrille Diabate (SUB)
How did these two get here?
Magalhaes was a finalist on season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, but Ryan Bader won the show with a 1st round KO. He lost his next fight and was soon out of the UFC. The ADCC gold medalist won 7 of his next 8 fights, showed improved striking to go along with his elite BJJ, and returned to the UFC last year at UFC 152 in Toronto. He finally recorded a UFC win with an armbar win over Igor Pokrajac, but put in a tepid showing in a decision loss to Phil Davis at UFC 159.
Perosh went 0-2 in his first UFC run back in 2006, and otherwise largely spent his career within the confines of his home country of Australia. When Ben Rothwell pulled out of UFC 110 in Sydney, Perosh filled in for him and fought Mirko Cro-Cop, losing by TKO (corner stoppage) after a sustained beating. "The Hippo" went on to win 3 straight fights before Ryan Jimmo annihilated him in 7 seconds at UFC 149. The BJJ black belt has been sidelined with a gruesome broken toe, which prevented him from fighting Joey Beltran last December.
Why should you care?
Two grapplers who hopefully aren't crazy enough to turn this into an awful kickboxing match. Perosh asked for this fight and he's never been submitted, so let's see if he can cope with the world class BJJ of Vinny Magalhaes.
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