Tag: Mike Perry

Video: Mike Perry vs. Thiago Alves first faceoff for BKFC: KnuckleMania 4 main event

Mike Perry got face-to-face with his next BKFC opponent ahead of April 27: Former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves.

The road to [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]’s next BKFC appearance is underway.

Perry, who is arguably the most notable character in bare knuckle boxing at the moment with a 4-0 record under the BKFC banner, will return to the ring on April 27 when he takes on former UFC title challenger [autotag]Thiago Alves[/autotag] in the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 4.

The first pre-fight press conference for the event, which also features Ben Rothwell vs. Todd Duffee, went down Wednesday in Los Angeles. Perry and Alves exchanged words and answered questions then proceeded to engage in their first staredown.

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Check out the video above to see the Perry vs. Alves press conference faceoff.

BKFC: KnuckleMania 4 goes down at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and airs on fuboTV.

New BKFC champion Austin Trout eyes Eddie Alvarez, Mike Perry for Knuckle Mania 4

Knuckle Mania 4 is coming up in April and could be BKFC’s most stacked card ever. Austin Trout wants Eddie Alvarez or Mike Perry for it.

[autotag]Austin Trout[/autotag] turns his attention to money fights now that he’s accomplished an unusual and impressive feat.

A former WBA champion, Trout notched his second world title in a different combat sport Feb. 2 when he defeated Luis Palomino at BKFC 57 to become the promotion’s welterweight champion.

“This belt means a lot,” Trout recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “Being a world champion is nothing to shy at. It’s nothing to turn your nose up at. It’s definitely a major feat. To be a two-sport champion? That’s pretty legacy stuff right there. It means a lot, you know? I’m on a really short list of people who have done that.”

Boxing’s storied history and championship lineage means Trout’s previous boxing world title reign means more than the one he notched weeks ago.

But there’s a certain savagery and bravery that comes with bareknuckle fighting, and for that reason, Trout indicated his BKFC title isn’t far behind in the power rankings.

“There’s a lot of history so that boxing title definitely weighs a lot more, but don’t get it twisted,” Trout said. “Muhammad Ali holds the same belt that I had. But at the same time, BKFC has some real killers in there, not to mention that it takes a certain special kind of person to want to fight. It takes an even more crazy, demented, special type of person to want to bareknuckle fight. I ask my peers, ‘Are you down?’ The majority of them were like, ‘Nah, I’m good. I’m not with that.’ So to be the champion of a combat sport that a real select few combatants would do, I’m bad mother-shut-your-mouth.”

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Even though he went five full rounds with Palomino, a beastly combatant who is held in regard by many as the best bareknuckle fighter to date, Trout walked away relatively unscathed.

With Knuckle Mania 4 recently announced for April 27 in Los Angeles, Trout wants a big name on what could be the promotion’s most high-profile card of all time.

“Nothing has been shot my way yet, but I’ll be there,” Trout said. “I’m just going to throw a name out there. [autotag]Eddie Alvarez[/autotag] is a good fight for LA. Tony Soto would be a good fight for LA. Tony Soto, they say he’s the No. 1 at 165. Those are two different decent names to put under my belt.

“…To be honest, the [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] fight does intrigue me. It does. It does intrigue me. … The way I’m feeling right now, it seems like a tough one on paper but I feel like I’ll make that fight look easy too.”

No fights have been announced for Knuckle Mania 4 at this time, though the event serves as the promotion’s first in California and is a trial run for widespread bareknuckle boxing sanctioning in the state.

Neither Perry nor Alvarez are booked at this time.

Luis Palomino frustrated with BKFC, threatens to retire unless he gets Mike Perry fight

BKFC champ-champ Luis Palomino is fed up with not getting the big names and didn’t hold back in airing grievances.

[autotag]Luis Palomino[/autotag] is not happy with where he stands in BKFC, specifically when it comes down to getting opportunities for marquee fights.

The two-division BKFC champion is frustrated, calling for fights against [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] and fighters of such stature, though he hasn’t received anything of the sort in return. Palomino, who’s regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound bareknuckle boxer today, is fed up with his situation.

“You talk about frustration. Frustration is not even a word that can describe this situation,” Palomino told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I don’t get this situation, to be honest.

“I understand that David Feldman, a man who created this sport, is trying to bring in the public using names like Eddie Alvarez, Luke Rockhold, Mike Perry, and these UFC names that have followings and are known. I get that, but I think that phase is over.

“Now we have the eyes on us, and it’s time to give your own champions, the in-house guys, these opportunities. It’s been extremely frustrating chasing Chad Mendes for an entire year just for him to disappear and then come back out of nowhere to fight Eddie Alvarez.”

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Palomino, who holds titles at both lightweight and featherweight, has publicly called out notable names in his divisions including Perry, Alvarez, Chad Mendes, and Thiago Alves. He’s yet to fight any of those guys.

Palomino was appalled to see Perry call out Anthony Pettis and say he’s only interested in fighting fighters with large followings after he won the “King of Violence” BKFC title in win over Eddie Alvarez in December.

“After the fight at the press conference, they asked Perry what his thoughts were on fighting Luis Palomino. His answer after winning a title of ‘King of Violence’ wasn’t a very violent answer,” Palomino said. “That answer was something like, ‘Well, if the organization is going to put someone against me, that person needs to have Instagram followers, and many comments and likes.’

“I was dumbfounded. I don’t get his line of thinking. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. That might’ve been the words of his manager because I know he doesn’t like me, and he doesn’t want that fight. So I think that answer came more from that side. I put the video on my social media and everyone was like, ‘What kind of answer is that? The bigger guy running from the smaller one.'”

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Palomino returns to the ring Feb. 2, as he’s set to headline BKFC 57 in Hollywood, Fla. He takes on former WBA champion-turned-bareknuckle-boxer Austin Trout.

The Peruvian fighter told MMA Junkie the fight against Trout might be his last, as he will only fight again if it’s against Mike Perry or someone of similar profile.

“After this fight, I’ll be the only champion in BKFC history that’s gone 10-0. I would also be the only fighter who’s defended his belt seven times,” Palomino said. “Before me, it was Joey Beltran who had three. I now doubled that, and I will have the seventh one on Feb. 2.

“I will put my feet on the ground, and I’m not going to accept any other fight that’s not Mike Perry. You’re not going to make up a title and present that title as more important than the undisputed world title and not give me the opportunity to fight for something like that? My deal is, ‘Ok, cool. You want to make them a title because of the history of Eddie Alvarez and Mike Perry, cool. But if you want to legitimize that, that guy needs to fight a real champion. Me, being the No. 1 pound-for-pound guy, I deserve that fight.'”

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Mike Perry has no plans of retiring from fighting: ‘I f*cking made so much money’

Mike Perry can’t imagine doing anything else but fighting.

[autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] can’t imagine doing anything else but fighting.

Perry’s journey has included MMA, boxing, and bare-knuckle boxing where he’s thrived the most. “Platinum” scored wins over Julian Lane, Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, and most recently Eddie Alvarez by TKO to claim “The King of Violence” title in the BKFC 56 main event.

Perry’s star has reached an all-time high after his recent success in BKFC. His recent paydays have made it difficult to think of steering away from fighting.

“That’s always a challenge with fighting because it’s like whatever amount of work I have to put into anything just seems so strenuous compared to physical exercise – which is good for my mental health, which is one of the main reasons I do exercise,” Perry told Demetrious Johnson. “If I’m having bad days, I’m like, ‘F*ck it, I need to go to the gym,’ and as soon as I work out, I’m on my way home and feeling better about myself.

“And that check, that fight check, there is nothing in the world like it. If you think about it, I know there was a time leading up to the fight, months of training, whatever, but four minutes twice last year, four minutes I f*cking made so much money in four minutes, dude. There’s nothing like it that compares to it at all.”

When asked if he’ll miss fighting after he retires, Perry said he’ll never walk away.

“Ain’t gonna hang them up brother,” Perry said. “I’m never retiring – never retiring. This is who I am, point blank, period. I’m going to be an old motherf*cker at the bar knocking people out. Get away from my seat, boy. Get out of here. Get out of here. I ain’t never retiring. I’m never hanging them up. I’m bareknuckle baby – we ain’t got to hang them up. This sh*t is automatic.”

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Darren Till pushing for Mike Perry fight – but open to Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz and more

Darren Till’s No. 1 option remains fighting Mike Perry.

[autotag]Darren Till[/autotag]’s No. 1 option remains fighting [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag].

Till and Perry have been on each other’s radars for years, dating back to their 2017 face-off in Poland when Till knocked out Donald Cerrone in the first round at UFC Fight Night 118.

Till hasn’t competed since a submission loss to current title challenger Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 282 in December 2022. He then opted to part ways with the UFC in February, and is now looking to venture into the boxing world.

“To be totally honest with you, my mind’s only been set on one thing, on one person: the Mike Perry fight,” Till said in an interview with Boxing Social. “Obviously, he became the ‘King of Violence’ inside (BKFC). It’s a fight that’s been destined now for seven years, me and him. I’m really pushing for it. I don’t know what his team and that are doing, I don’t feel like they’re pushing for it as much.”

Till’s former foe Jorge Masvidal announced that he’s “unretired,” which sparked rumors of a boxing match against Nate Diaz. These names interest Till, too.

“I think that whole scene, now Masvidal and Nate are fighting, Jake Paul, Tommy (Fury), KSI, Perry – that whole thing comes together,” Till said. “Even (Tyron) Woodley’s in it and stuff like that. Any one of them, I feel like it’s a big-money fight. It’s a big fight, especially with my name and their name – all the sh*t before it and the fight. I know I can beat them all, as well.

“Masvidal, yeah, the rematch with Masvidal, so get one back on him. They’re the fights (I want). Let’s say Perry’s at the top of this – Perry’s No. 1 – and they’re all just below Perry. So if I can’t make the Perry fight happen, I’d love to make a fight with one of them happen.”

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Watch Mike Perry pitch a UFC 300 fight with Nate Diaz to Hunter Campbell on the phone

Mike Perry is the type of guy to call a UFC executive to try and convince him of a fight with Nate Diaz – while recording a podcast.

[autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] has been making a lot of noise lately about fighting at UFC 300 and if he’s truly serious about that, there’s at least one man ready, willing and able to accommodate him.

And that’s [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag].

Because, you see, Mike Perry is the type of guy to see Diaz talk sh*t on social media – talking about “UFC 300 would be tight but there’s nobody to fight” – and then take action by getting UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell on the phone to try to convince him to set it up.

That’s exactly what Perry did on the most recent episode of the “Overdogs Podcast,” which you can watch in the video below (starts at 28:28):

Perry: “Nate Diaz says there’s no one to fight on UFC 300. I’m saying me and Nate, y’all could bring me back for a little purse and then throw in the PPV points, and then we could have a great show for UFC 300.”

Campbell: “I’ve got a better idea: Why don’t you call f*cking … why don’t your guys talk to f*cking Nate and get him to go over and fight you there (in BKFC)?”

Watching that entire conversation (which may or may not have been illegal to record, by the way) was both hilarious and fascinating. We know – at least publicly from Dana White – that the UFC and Diaz have remained on good terms despite his departure from the promotion last year. And based on this conversation, it appears that’s also the case with Perry, who left the UFC in late 2021.

Perry has reignited his career as a bareknuckle boxer, going 4-0 in BKFC since his debut in February 2022. He’s the promotion’s “King of Violence.” Meanwhile, Diaz lost in a boxing match to Jake Paul last August.

You telling me you wouldn’t want to see Perry and Diaz throw down in the cage? Sign me up!

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Demetrious Johnson has surprising pick for MMA Fighter of the Year: Mike Perry

Demetrious Johnson has an unpopular opinion for 2023’s MMA Fighter of the Year.

[autotag]Demetrious Johnson[/autotag] has an unpopular opinion for 2023’s MMA Fighter of the Year.

With UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland winning MMA Junkie’s Male Fighter of the Year, Johnson looked outside of the major MMA promotions for his pick.

Instead, “Mighty Mouse” selected [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag], who scored two stoppage wins over former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez in bare-knuckle boxing this year.

“Mike Perry has stopped two world champions in his last two fights,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel. “He’s gone against the grain. He was, I felt, a very successful mixed martial artist. He’s got big wins, and he did something different. He goes, ‘I’m not going to have no coach in the corner hand me water, telling me “Do this, do this. I’m going to have my girlfriend do that and save me some money,” and he did it.

“Now he is the ‘King of Violence.’ He’s beaten two of my good friends, Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez, which – those guys are no joke. He has embraced and embodied bareknuckle fighting, and that’s why he gets my best Fighter of the Year.”

The former longtime UFC flyweight champion explained that the nature in which Perry beat Rockhold and Alvarez is what impressed him the most.

“There’s a thing to finish a fighter when they don’t have an option, but when a fighter actually quits, like, ‘Hey dude, I’m done’ – you don’t really see that in any form of combat,” Johnson said.

“Mixed martial arts, you never see a fighter go, ‘No, I’m done – I’m good.’ That’s the last thing a fighter wants to do. But he made Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez do that. Granted, it was medical reasons, but those guys still have to self-consciously say, ‘I’m good – this sport ain’t for me.'”

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‘Touch of Gloves’: MMA figures show appreciation to those who shined brightest in 2023

What better time than the end of the year for UFC and MMA notables to reflect on who they appreciated most in 2023.

‘”As real as it gets” is the UFC’s slogan to describe just how realistic MMA combat can be. But before fighters get to any of the face punching, they typically share a moment of respect, a moment of peace that represents their mutual acknowledgment for the struggle to arrive at the moment: the touch of gloves.

Fighters might beat each other up for as much as 25 minutes, but the respect for one another and the sport seldom goes away and the martial arts spirt is always with them.

In this year’s edition of “Touch of Gloves,” we see that spirt come to life as fighters, coaches and more show appreciation to the people they think especially deserve a shoutout for what they did in 2023:

  • [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] on [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] on [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] on [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Cain Velasquez[/autotag] on [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Manel Kape[/autotag] on [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag]
  • And many more

Enjoy!

Video: Dissecting Kerry Hatley’s universally derided late stoppage at UFC Austin

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses referee Kerry Hatley’s late stoppage in Jalin Turner vs. Bobby Green in Austin, Texas.

Late stoppages are one of the worst things that can happen in MMA.

A referee is tasked with the responsibility of protecting the fighters by recognizing the appropriate time to stop a contest when a competitor is no longer intelligently defending themself. When a referee fails at that duty, a competitor could be seriously hurt due to unnecessary damage.

That’s exactly what happened when referee Kerry Hatley was late to stop the onslaught of offense by [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] on Bobby Green at UFC on ESPN 52.

Turner badly rocked Green on the feet, and then unloaded a number of unanswered strikes on Green as he followed him to the ground. Green was out and facedown on the canvas, still receiving stikes while Hatley watched on.

The stoppage eventually came, but the timing immediately drew criticism. Hatley himself recognized the error while still inside the cage, but the damage was done.

How should Hatley be held accountable for the late stoppage?

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Our “Spinning Back Clique” panelists Dan Tom, Matthew Wells, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss the situation with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss the most recent entire episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.

Video: Is BKFC’s ‘King of Violence’ Mike Perry a trendsetter for MMA to bareknuckle?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses Mike Perry’s rise in bareknuckle boxing, and which other MMA fighters would fare well without gloves.

[autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] has found his lane.

Once a UFC welterweight who struggled to crack into the top tier of the division, Perry made the switch to bareknuckle boxing and began to thrive. His hard-nosed fight style is tailor-made for the gritty, bloody world of bareknuckle boxing. Certain fighters are willing to take one to give one, and “Platinum” Perry might be the shining example.

Through four fights under the BKFC banner, Perry has gone undefeated, knocking off MMA veterans Julian Lane and Michael Page. He then defeated a pair of former UFC champions Luke Rockhold, and most recently, Eddie Alvarez at BKFC 56 for the “King of Violence” title.

It’s clear Perry is a guy who will stand in pocket and trade until someone can no longer stand, which has led to success in bareknuckle boxing. Combined with his over-the-top personality, Perry has turned himself into a star for the BKFC brand.

When it comes to fight styles, which other fighters primarily competing in MMA could follow in Perry’s footsteps to make a successful transition to bareknuckle?

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Our “Spinning Back Clique” panelists Dan Tom, Matthew Wells, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss the MMA to bareknuckle boxing phenomenon with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss the most recent entire episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube or in podcast form.