A light heavyweight bout has been added to the card for the UFC’s Calgary debut on July 21st, featuring a promotional newcomer and an aging veteran who’s put together an impressive and surprising winning streak as of late. Sportsnet’s Joe Ferraro first reported the UFC 149 bout between Anthony Perosh and Ryan Jimmo, that was later confirmed by the UFC’s Canada office on Twitter:
You heard it here first RT: “
@ShowdownJoe: Edmonton’s Ryan Jimmo to take on Anthony Perosh at UFC 149 in Calgary http://bit.ly/IWBc2S“
Jimmo, a Canadian native and karate practitioner, made a name for himself on the Canadian regional scene, particularly for the MFC promotion and hasn’t loss since his first MMA fight back in 2007. Sometimes criticized for a conservative fighting style as well as for a few controversial decision wins, Jimmo nonetheless couldn’t be ignored by the UFC anymore given his winning streak and victories over former UFC fighters. He was originally scheduled to make his debut back in January, but an injury forced him out of a scheduled bout with Karlos Vemola.
At 39 years of age, Australia’s Anthony Perosh is one of the oldest fighters in the UFC, and he was seen by many as a sacrificial lamb when he stepped in on short notice to face Mirko Cro Cop in February of 2010, having last fought for the UFC three years prior. Although Perosh was brutalized by Cro Cop, he never quit and many admired his courage for taking the amount of punishment he did. That spirit earned “The Hippo” another shot in the Octagon and he’s made the most of it. Although his level of opposition hasn’t been very high, Perosh has now strung together three wins in a row, all by stoppage, in one of the more surprising developments in the last year.
Ryan “Big Deal” Jimmo (16-1)
W Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (unam. decision) – MFC 31
W Zak Cummings (unam. decision) – MFC 29
W Dwayne Lewis (TKO) – MFC 28
Anthony “The Hippo” Perosh (13-6)
W Nick Penner (TKO) – UFC on FX 2
W Cyrille Diabate (submission) – UFC 138
W Tom Blackledge (submission) – UFC 127
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