MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Was submitted via rear choke by Tom Sauer (Pictures) and later via armbar by David Dodd. Lost a decision to Forrest Griffin (Pictures) at WEFC 1. Submitted Mike Delaney (Pictures) via choke at AFC 4. Submitted Tengiz Tedoradze (Pictures) via rear choke at Cage Wars 9 and then again four months later at Cage Rage: Ultimate Force. Beat Devin Cole (Pictures) by decision at XFC 3.
UFC EXPERIENCE: 3-2. Beat Tim Lajcik by decision at UFC 27. Lost a decision to Chuck Liddell (Pictures) at UFC 29. Was stopped with strikes by Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) at UFC 35. Submitted Branden Lee Hinkle (Pictures) via North-South choke at UFC 57. Beat Marcio Cruz (Pictures) by decision at UFC 59.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Jeff has experience against a lot of quality opponents. He battled the current UFC light heavyweight champ (before the title) and the former UFC heavyweight champ as well as top contender Griffin, former Cage Rage champ Tedoradze and Abu Dhabi champ Marcio Cruz (Pictures). He has been highly successful at adapting his jiu-jitsu game to MMA and has a high percentage of victories by submission.
PEROSH: 6’ 3”, 225 pounds, 33, Sydney, Australia, known as “The Hippo”
BACKGROUND: Perosh is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Carlos Machado and runs Sinosic-Perosh Martial Arts with UFC veteran Elvis Sinosic (Pictures). He has won the Australian BJJ title 10 times and won two bronze medals at the World BJJ Championships. Anthony started training in Go-Kan-Ryu Karate at 21. He then saw Royce Gracie (Pictures) winning the Ultimate Fighting Championships using Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Perosh began training with Paul Zadro, where he was exposed to Kempo Karate, kickboxing and BJJ. He later moved to Dallas, Texas to train with Carlos Machado. Perosh won the Spartan Reality Fighting 8 eight-man tournament in ’03 and won the Spartan Reality Fighting Australian Heavyweight Championship in ’04. He has a professional MMA record of 5-1.
MMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Won the Spartan Reality Fighting 8 eight-man tournament beating Api Hemara, Mal Foki and David Frendin by submission. Lost a decision to Sam Nest at Shooto Australia. He submitted Matt Foki to earn the Spartan Reality Fighting Australian heavyweight championship.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: He has excellent ground skills. Anthony has been competing at a high level for more than a decade and waited until he had his BJJ black belt to compete in MMA. He may have some ring rust to eliminate because he’s only fought under MMA rules once in last two years.
OVERALL OPINION OF MATCH: Fair. It is a worthwhile test for both competitors but it could turn into another Cruz-Monson. They keep putting Monson in with good grapplers that don’t have MMA experience. Perosh hasn’t fought in a while and it will be interesting to see if he resembles the 5-1 record he carries.