Tag: Mike Perry

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.

Anthony Pettis responds to Mike Perry’s BKFC callout: ‘I wouldn’t say no to it’

Anthony Pettis’ initial reaction to Mike Perry’s callout for a BKFC clash is to accept, but he admits additional consideration is needed.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]’ initial reaction to [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag]’s callout for a BKFC clash is to accept, but he admits an additional layer of consideration is needed.

Pettis, a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, has expanded his combat sports horizons since completing his UFC contract in December 2020. He’s competed five times under the PFL banner, defeated Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing match, and is currently scheduled to face Benson Henderson under the Karate Combat banner on Dec. 15 in Las Vegas.

Could a bareknuckle boxing match be next for Pettis? “Showtime” admits he was intrigued when Perry dropped his name after defeaing Eddie Alvarez to win the “King of Violence” title last Saturda at BKFC 56. His natural instinct is to agree to the challenge, but given the brutal nature of BKFC, Pettis said it’s something he would have to discuss more thoroughly with his team if and when an official offer comes through.

“That’s definitely different from something I’ve ever done before, that bareknuckle sh*t,” Pettis told MMA Junkie Radio. “That’s like real fighting. You’re going to get cut. I know Eddie had like two broken orbitals after that fight. I would have to talk to my wife about that one. I’ve done everything. I’ve boxed. I’ve done mixed martial arts my whole life. Now I’m doing Karate Combat. I wouldn’t say no to it, but it’s definitely something I have to talk to my coaches about, talk to my team about and make sure it makes sense about everything.”

Whether a Pettis vs. Perry fight materializes remains to be seen, but regardless, 2024 is going to be a busy year, Pettis said.

He is obligated to another fight under the PFL banner, has multiple boxing matchups potentially in the works, and is open to listening to any other opportunities that come his way.

“(Next) year I will definitely have some big boxing fights,” Pettis said. “I have a pay-per-view fight with (PFL). I think that will be in April or May. I’m waiting for them to announce that. But my MMA fight will be one more with PFL. But I’m allowed to do Karate Combat. I’m allowed to box. I’m able to make money everywhere.”

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Mike Perry calls out Anthony Pettis after BKFC 56 win: ‘That’s an amazing fight’

Mike Perry wants to meet Anthony Pettis in the bareknuckle boxing world.

It looks like [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] already has an idea for the next page of the bareknuckle chapter of his fighting career.

Perry suggested a fight against former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis after his latest win inside the ring. Saturday in Colorado, Perry beat Eddie Alvarez by TKO when his corner stopped the fight in the BKFC 56 main event.

Wanting to continue his run against big former MMA legends, Perry sees Pettis as a fitting next step.

“One name that did come to mind that I did mention before I fought Alvarez was Anthony Pettis,” Perry said at the BKFC 56 post-fight press conference. “I think that’s an amazing fight.

“He just beat Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing match. I think he’s intrigued by the bareknuckle aspect. I had fun with Eddie, but it happened exactly how I said it was going to happen. I posted that Kimbo Slice picture of that backyard fight, and what did he say? ‘You have to hit me. Come on.’ Once he hit me, then I started moving, and he stopped hitting me and by the end of the second, what happened? He got busted up worse than I did.”

Pettis most recently fought in April, when he beat 54-year-old Jones by majority decision in a boxing match. Pettis is scheduled to fight in the main event of Karate Combat 43 on Dec. 15 against Benson Henderson, whom he has two MMA wins over – once for the WEC title and once for the UFC belt.

Perry suggested a fight against Pettis after he was called out by BKFC lightweight champion Luis Palomino – a callout he didn’t take seriously.

“I think that whoever the company wants to match me against needs to have a certain number of followers, of hits on social media, on the internet, that are going to get people to tune in,” Perry said. “It can’t just be one-sided. It can’t just be me selling the hell out of the fight. It can’t be that way. It has to be a two-sided affair.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for BKFC 56.