Former UFC interim lightweight title challenger Kevin Lee is looking to find somewhere that he can truly call home, for the foreseeable future.
“Motown Phenom” has been a bit of a gun for hire as of late and after his UFC return didn’t pan out the way he hoped it would, Lee is exploring some new options.
On November 15, he’s set to debut on Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA when he faces off against Saul Almeida.
Lee doesn’t see this as a quick stop-gap before signing for another MMA promotion and in fact, believes that he can raise the profile of the sport.
Kevin Lee Believes That He Can Elevate Bare Knuckle MMA Like Mike Perry Has With BKFC
Lee is confident that with his fighting style, he will be very effective when competing in bare-knuckle MMA.
His heavy wrestling style should allow him to negate a lot of the damage that would usually come with competing without the gloves on.
He said in a recent interview with MMA Fighting that he not only believes that this switch will suit him, Lee thinks he can elevate the sport as a result of his success.
The 32-year-old made reference to the impact that Mike Perry has had in bare-knuckle boxing since departing the UFC, going on to become the face of BKFC.
“I’m curious to see how I’m gonna pan out. You see guys like Mike Perry really take bare knuckle boxing and take it to a different level because it fit his style really well. I think that bare knuckle MMA, for me, could be that thing that does that or I could be that guy for bare knuckle MMA. You know, I got great kicks, I got great wrestling and I got great top pressure and all of that kind of blends to bare knuckle the best.”
What makes this even more impressive, and something that Perry is able to take out of this fight, is that he was compromised from the very first punch that his opponent landed.
Mike Perry Reveals That Jake Paul Broke His Rib With The First Punch That He Landed
Perry appeared on BS w/ Jake Paul where they spoke about the fight and revealed new details about how it all went down.
During the podcast, the former UFC fighter said that he is going to take some time off for his rib to recover after it was broken in the opening 10 seconds of the fight.
He said that he was so focused on keeping his hands up that it left an opening for Paul which he successfully took advantage of from the opening bell.
With his body badly injured, Perry was forced to drop his guard which left him more susceptible to head strikes which eventually closed the show on him.
“First 10 seconds, that first punch you hit me with, you popped me. Because look, I knew people were going to be like, ‘Put your hands up,’ Right, so I come out and I’m like this with my hands up and my rib was wide open. You hit me in the rib and I was like, ‘F*** that’s it, I’m putting my hands down.’ You popped it right away and I fought through it I mean there’s something, there’s pieces I can take that I can be proud of but you know, I think it was fair and square.”
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) July 21, 2024
To compound Perry’s misfortune, BKFC part-owner “The Notorious” swiftly took to X to declare, “You’re fired,” seemingly ousting Perry from the bare-knuckle promotion. He didn’t stop there, going on to mock Perry’s newly launched hybrid boxing venture, Dirty Boxing Championship, with biting remarks.
Perry Insists McGregor’s Statements Are Just For Attention
During a recent appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul, “Platinum” addressed McGregor’s apparent attempt to fire him from BKFC. Perry dismissed the notion, suggesting that the Irishman is just stirring the pot for attention. He emphasized that the fans want to see him fight in BKFC.
“I think it’s just, you know, he does that. He tweets and he gets people to attach to something, whatever he says,” Perry said. “He knows that we had that moment that night in history and it was what people were talking about, so he’s like, let me say something about it and talk sh*t about it and be his normal witty self. He said something that got people to tune into it because he’s like, oh, now Mike’s released from bare-knuckle. But let’s be honest, everybody wants to see me fight bare-knuckle again.”
“The Problem Child” agreed with Perry’s assertions and vehemently criticized McGregor for swiftly turning his back on BKFC’s undefeated star.
“I saw everyone being like ‘Yeah, Mike Perry is the BKFC,’ which is true,” Paul said. “I think it’s f*ked up of him to be like dck riding you all week, like ‘Look what the BKFC has done for Mike and he’s our biggest star,’ and then all of a sudden he throws you under the bus like that.”
Perry has experienced tremendous success since departing from the UFC in April 2021 and has risen to become the biggest star in BKFC. He boasts an undefeated 5-0 record, with victories over high-profile fighters such as Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael “Venom” Page.
Jake Paul recently agreed in principle to a rematch with Mike Perry, which could first take place in PFL and then in “Platinum’s” new hybrid boxing promotion, Dirty Boxing Championship, at some point in the future.
“The Problem Child” delivered three knockdowns against the BKFC standout en route to sealing the victory with a relentless onslaught that resulted in a sixth-round TKO this past Saturday at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) July 21, 2024
Paul was initially set to face boxing legend Mike Tyson on July 20. However, after “Iron Mike” suffered an ulcer flare-up during a flight in May and was declared medically unfit, Perry answered the call to compete on short notice.
During the lead-up to their bout, the YouTuber-turned-boxer expressed a keen interest in potentially facing “Platinum” in either MMA or a bare-knuckle fight, determined to prove that he could defeat the former UFC welterweight fighter in any discipline.
However, in an interview with Ariel Helwani earlier this month, Perry dismissed the notion that Paul would ever seriously consider removing the gloves and facing him in a bare-knuckle fight.
Paul Overlooks BKFC Fight with Perry Eyes PFL or Dirty Boxing Instead
“The Problem Child” recently took to X to shower Perry with praise for their boxing match, revealing that they have verbally agreed to a rematch under MMA rules in the PFL at an opportune moment.
“Chopped it up with Mike Perry last night. What a stand-up dude. More confidence than most of these fighters. We agreed to run it in PFL when the time is right.” Paul tweeted.
Chopped it up with Mike Perry last night. What a stand up dude. More confidence than most of these fighters. We agreed to run it in PFL when the time is right
In January 2023, Paul revealed that he had inked a deal with the PFL to compete in the special super-fight division. However, he has not yet to make his MMA debut, as his primary focus remains on his boxing career.
UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley wasn’t impressed by what he saw from Mike Perry this past weekend in his boxing clash with Jake Paul.
Many expected that “Platinum” could prove to be a tough night for Paul because of his unwavering toughness and mentality but this wasn’t to be the case as he was stopped in the sixth round.
BKFC’s “King of Violence” certainly showed grit on Saturday night but his ability to take damage and keep on coming only got him so far.
Despite feeling like Perry looked somewhat of place in the ring with Paul, O’Malley did reaffirm that there’s a good reason for that.
Sean O’Malley Says That Mike Perry Was Fighting Out Of His Comfort Zone Against Jake Paul
Perry may have been different to Paul’s previous opponents in that he’s an active fighter that isn’t past his prime, but his lack of boxing experience, combined with a size difference between the two men, was simply too much for “Platinum” to overcome.
O’Malley did say that for how the fight ended up going for Perry, you can’t be too surprised given that he was out of his comfort zone in this fight to some degree.
The former UFC fighter has been incredibly successful in BKFC but removing the gloves changes everything specifically in regards to defense and shot selection.
O’Malley spoke on a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow about how just because Perry was outmatched on Saturday night, it doesn’t mean he couldn’t beat Paul if they were to fight in his more natural environment.
“The thing is Mike Perry would probably beat Jake Paul in bare knuckle boxing, that’s where Mike Perry is the f****** man, that’s where he is the champ. He’s the king of that sport so for him to come over into boxing, I didn’t expect too much. I’ve never seen Mike Perry hands up, throw a beautiful 1-2, slip, like that’s not really his style. He definitely didn’t look great.”
Conor McGregor was furious at Mike Perry for losing to Jake Paul in boxing and surprisingly fired the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s “King of Violence”, following the fight.
Perry, in return, brought up his BKFC ownership and claimed to be immune from McGregor’s threats. However, the Irishman discarded “Platinum” coming from his position as part-owner of the BKFC and doubled down on firing him.
The sequence of events have naturally made fans curious about the state of the owners of the BKFC. Here’s whether McGregor owns the entire promotion and actually has the power to fire fighters like Perry…
Conor McGregor’s Part-Ownership Of The BKFC Explained
On April 28, 2024, McGregor announced on his social media accounts that he and McGregor Sports and Entertainment have become part-owners of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
The Irishman founded McGregor Sports and Entertainment in 2014, where his wife Dee Devlin works as the Director. The company was mentioned on banners during the promotions of Mayweather vs. McGregor as well.
However, Triller continues to be the majority shareholder of the BKFC even with McGregor and his company jumping in.
Who Owns The BKFC Apart From Conor McGregor?
As of July 2024, the BKFC is owned by the promotion’s president David Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.
Triller is an American platform for sharing videos and social networking. Perry claims to be a co-owner of the BKFC because he has shares in Triller but these claims were outright rejected by the “Mystic Mac”. In a now-deleted post on X, the former UFC champ said that Perry’s shares in Triller aren’t enough to make him a BKFC co-owner.
How Much Is The BKFC Worth?
In April 2024, Rolling Stone reported that the BKFC was valued at $411 million. This is a huge jump from making $500,000 in revenue in 2018, as the promotion has clearly acquired a host of new fans in the last few years.
For now, it is unknown how much of the BKFC is owned by Feldman, McGregor, and Triller.
By defeating the likes of Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Perry has helped legitimize BKFC. Following his loss to Paul, is the former UFC contender really done for in the BKFC or will we see him returning to the promotion soon? Despite part-owner Conor McGregor’s social media outburst, the latter is almost a certainty.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 22, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Loughran is happy to be fighting Hadley instead
Paul taunts Perry with shot-by-shot comparison
Durden shares gruesome post-fight medical procedure
Caolan Loughran Says Jake Hadley Is A Perfect Replacement Opponent At UFC 304
Just one week out from UFC 304 this Saturday, Ireland’s Caolan Loughran had his fight and opponent switched around on short notice.
Loughran was announced to be fighting UFC flyweight contender Jake Hadley after his previous opponent Ramon Taveras was declared injured and unable to make July 27.
Though having a chance of opponents one week out from fight night is never ideal, “The Don” is very happy with his new fight.
As well as the fact that he had been preparing to fight a southpaw which both Hadley and Taveras are, this England vs Ireland fight between two former Cage Warriors champions is sure to get the Manchester fans excited.
Loughran spoke in an interview with Violent Money TV about how this fight ended up working out pretty well in his favour after all.
“I was like f*** me, unbelievable. That’s a bigger fight domestically, going to have more buzz. He’s also a southpaw as we were preparing for. F****** let’s go, let’s do it, that’s what I was thinking.
I actually get on alright with Hadley. Fair f****** respect to him for taking the fight, I didn’t have a fight there for like a day and I don’t know what the f*** was going on. I wanted to be on this card so fighters fight innit, fair f****** play to him but like I say, I half get on with the guy but I don’t need beef this time. This fight is going to be big anyway.”
Jake Paul Shares Comparison Photo Of Mike Perry’s Custom Chain After Stopping Him
Jake Paul added to his current winning streak this past weekend when he stopped Mike Perry in the sixth round where his size and power was simply too much for the ‘King of Violence’.
After the fight, “Platinum” tipped his hat to his opponent, putting out the following message on social media to show his appreciation to the fans for their support.
“Congrats @jakepaul , shout out to @NateDiaz209 who went 10 rounds with him. Thanks to everyone who came out.”
Congrats @jakepaul , shout out to @NateDiaz209 who went 10 rounds with him. Thanks to everyone who came out.
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 21, 2024
Paul, on the other hand, was not so humble in victory as he chose to readdress a certain aspect of the build to the fight.
Perry had worn a custom chain of Paul’s head with blood and bruises all over his face which “The Problem Child” shared after the bout next to a photo of Perry’s face being in a similar position.
VIDEO: Cody Durden Shows Himself Getting Substantial Stitches After Ruthless Loss To Bruno Silva
Cody Durden gave fight fans a glimpse into what happens once a fighter exits the Octagon following his loss this past weekend at the Apex.
Durden was stopped in the second round following a devastating uppercut from Bruno Silva which was followed up on until referee Chris Tognoni waved the fight off.
The flyweight contender was left wearing some significant damage on his face as a result and decided to shine a spotlight on a side to the game that many don’t see.
Posting on X, Durden shared a video of himself getting stitches from medical personnel during his post-fight medical.
Count former UFC champion Michael Bisping among those not impressed by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul’s latest triumph inside the ring.
Paul’s trend of fighting and defeating mixed martial arts veterans continued this past weekend at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, which played host to “The Problem Child’s” 11th professional fight.
The ex-Disney star has notably built a record by beating prominent MMA names crossing over to the squared circle, such as Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. And former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star Mike Perry has now joined his list of victims.
But despite previously speaking highly of Perry’s chances, one former UFC champ has laid into Paul for the match…
Bisping: Paul vs. Perry Should Never Have Happened
During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping gave his take on the latest boxing success for Paul, whom “The Count” has gone back and forth with himself over a possible bout in the past.
Interestingly, Bisping’s pre-fight remarks saw him actually warn Paul against the fight, branding Perry a “savage” who has “good technique.” The Englishman suggested the 27-year-old Cleveland native was “rolling the dice” by fighting “Platinum” and would not have an easy night.
But despite proving Bisping wrong, Paul isn’t getting any praise from the ex-UFC champ.
“Coming into this fight, I think myself, the whole fight community, everyone was behind Mike Perry. But the reality was he was too small,” Bisping said. “There are weight classes in boxing, in combat sports, for a reason. Jake Paul was about twice the size of him. The weight difference is going to be insane.
“Well done Jake Paul if that’s what you want to see. That was a farce,” Bisping continued. “That was ridiculous. That fight should have never even taken place in the first place because it was a sh*t show. Jake Paul was by far the bigger guy, and as I’ve said, there are weight classes for a reason. … He (Paul) cherry picks these opponents that are way smaller and less experienced.”
Paul will be no stranger to that kind of criticism, with his detractors using choice of opponents as the main tool by which to take away from his boxing career thus far.
And that trend will no doubt continue as he looks to ride the momentum from the knockout win over Perry into a planned Netflix showdown with 58-year-old Tyson at AT&T Stadium this November.
Jake Paul put on a thoroughly dominant display in his boxing matchup with Mike Perry on Saturday, overwhelming the BKFC star en route to a sixth-round knockout win.
The victory marked the fifth former UFC star whom Paul has stood victorious over in the boxing ring, with previous wins over Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Ben Askren, and Tyron Woodley (twice).
Woodley was, in fact, on color commentary for the Paul vs. Perry DAZN broadcast, and he was willing to tip his cap to his former foe.
“You got to kind of give Jake his props, man,” Woodley told The Schmo in a post-fight interview. “You can be a hater all you want, but he was punching the dude high, low. He was throwing power with both hands, variety.”
Tyron Woodley Explains What Makes For Good Cardio While Defending Jake Paul Against Critics
Paul dropped Perry once each during the opening two rounds. Despite this, “Platinum” continued to go through the former Disney star’s punches and fire away, trying to make use of his well-known and entertaining brawling style. “The Problem Child,” however, continued to land damaging shots, and Perry was dropped for a third time during the sixth round.
Perry stumbled while returning to his feet, prompting the referee to call the fight in Paul’s favor.
One notable thing that critics got on Paul for was his heavy breathing during the fight, as the Cleveland native seemed to be winded after his bashing of Perry for two rounds.
Woodley, however, pointed out that Paul recovered and got the knockout eventually — and that’s what cardio is about, not a lack of breathing hard.
“Everybody thinks you’re supposed to have the cardio where you never breathe hard,” Woodley said. “When you’re punching that hard, it’s not about breathing hard, it’s about recovering. He showed he can recover and go back to the power.”
Conor McGregor may be among those who took Perry’s knockout loss to Jake Paul the roughest, publicly trashing both men before and claiming that “Platinum” will be released by the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
McGregor, who became a part-owner of BKFC a couple of months ago, fired off the posts on X (formerly Twitter) moments following Perry being stopped by Paul in their headlining boxing match at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday night.
Perry was dropped twice in the opening two rounds, and while he tried to walk through Paul’s punches and walk the ex-Disney star down, Paul’s power and technical skills were just too much.
After getting dropped in the sixth round, Perry made it back to his feet but stumbled, forcing the referee to wave off the fight.
Perry Hits Back AT BKFC Part-Owner McGregor: ‘He Can’t Fire Me!’
Perry was asked about McGregor’s actions during his post-fight press conference. He claimed the Irishman has no power to release him. Perry even offered to settle the differences in the BKFC ring.
"Me and him are both owners of BKFC, so he can't fire me."
Mike Perry responds to Conor McGregor and says McGregor fighting Jake Paul would be "worse than Conor McGregor vs. [Floyd] Mayweather" 👀 #PaulPerrypic.twitter.com/fGo8klU0qY
“Me and him are both co-owners of BKFC,” Perry said. “So he can’t fire me. We can fight in Bare Knuckle. Look at me, I lost to Jake Paul. Why don’t you go fight Jake Paul in boxing with gloves on? I think it would be worse than Conor McGregor vs. [Floyd] Mayweather.”
McGregor’s post made reference to Perry announcing the formation of Dirty Boxing Championship, a promotion that will mix in boxing and ground-and-pound mechanics.
Perry is BKFC’s “King of Violence” and has amassed a 5-0 record in the organization since coming over from the UFC in 2021.
McGregor’s return to the UFC is still to be determined, meanwhile, after a planned comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 was scrapped. The current rumor is the bout will be rebooked for UFC 310 in December.
Jake Paul added another name to his record, putting away Mike Perry in their bout from Tampa, Florida.
In what seemed to be a flashback to his fight with Nate Diaz, Paul got off to a hot start by dropping the former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star with a clubbing blow in the opening couple of minutes.
Paul continued to land at will, with Perry unable to trap “The Problem Child” at all. “Platinum” landed strong shots in the second round, but he was dropped again courtesy of a right hook from Paul and was rocked later in the frame.
Perry walked Paul down during the second and third rounds, trying to showcase a strong chin. He busted the ex-Disney star open in the middle of the third round and looked to continue his pressure. But Paul wobbled Perry again in the fourth.
Perry was still wobbly but recovering as he continued to fight and try to walk Paul down, rather than pause for recovery. A flurry of punches stumbled “Perry “Platinum” back into a corner, but the MMA veteran ultimately survived the round in spite of being caught with a right hand at the bell.
With the fight looking like it could come to an end at any moment, Perry was knocked down again in the sixth round. Perry got to his feet but stumbled, and the referee waved the contest off.
This date was the original plan for Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson in Texas, which will now take place on November 15.
Since his sole loss to Tommy Fury, “The Problem Child” has scored a unanimous decision win over Diaz and back-to-back stoppages of Andre August and Ryan Bourland, in addition to his latest triumph on Saturday night.
Since leaving the UFC in 2021, meanwhile, Perry has been dominant in BKFC, with wins over Julian Lane, Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Thiago Alves. Perry’s finish of Alvarez at BKFC 56 in December won him the promotion’s “King of Violence” title.
Perry had only competed in pro boxing once prior to tonight, losing a March 2015 bout to Kenneth McNeil.
Jake Paul and Mike Perry finally clashed in the boxing ring on July 20 in Tampa, Florida. MMA News has the results and highlights here!
Boxing fans witnessed another dominant performance from Paul as he stepped back into the ring to take on Perry, the leading star in bare-knuckle boxing. The event occurred at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Paul was initially set to face Mike Tyson, but the fight was postponed due to the heavyweight legend’s illness. “Platinum” Perry came in on a month’s notice in an attempt to stun the boxing world by defeating the polarizing ex-Disney star and getting the biggest win of his combat sports career to date. However, Paul proved to be too much for his opponent to handle.
“The Problem Child” controlled the fight with his jab and an overhand right to stun Perry several times. Although the bare-knuckle champion showcased incredible toughness, Paul achieved a TKO victory in the sixth round. After the fight, Paul shared that he plans to knock out Tyson later this year and wants to fight UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in boxing.
Elsewhere on the card, former UFC middleweight Uriah Hall faced Julio César Chávez Jr. in a cruiserweight contest to kick off the main card. The fight went the distance, with judges believing that Chávez Jr. did enough to win by unanimous decision.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Fight Card Results
Main Card:
Cruiserweight: Jake Paul def. Mike Perry via TKO: R6, 1:12
Women’s Super Lightweight: Amanda Serrano def. Stevie Morgan via TKO: R2, 0:38
Lightweight: Lucas Bahdi def. Ashton Sylve via KO: R6, 2:27
Lightweight: Corey Marksman def. Tony Aguilar via Majority Decision (76-76, 77-75, 78-74)
Cruiserweight: Julio César Chávez Jr. def. Uriah Hall via Unanimous Decision (59-55×2, 58-56)
Preliminary Card:
Women’s Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green def. Natasha Spence via Unanimous Decision (78-73, 77-74×2)
Middleweight: Alexis Chaparro def. Kevin Hill via KO: R2, 2:01
Super Bantamweight: Angel Barrientes def. Edwin Rodriguez via Majority Decision (57-57, 60-54, 60-54)
Conor McGregor has been back in the headlines this week as he hosted his first press conference as part-owner of BKFC ahead of the company’s scheduled event in Marbella, Spain later this year.
The former UFC two-weight world champion was scheduled to fight in the Octagon for the first time in three years at UFC 303 recently, but a foot injury put paid to those plans. Speaking at the BKFC press conference, the Irishman revealed that he only has two fights left on his current contract with the UFC and said that he has ambitions to test the waters inside the bareknuckle ring once those commitments are fulfilled.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five intriguing options we would love to see “The Notorious” face in BKFC.
Nate Diaz
The rivalry between McGregor and Diaz has simply refused to go away ever since the pair first met inside the Octagon at UFC 196 back in 2016. Diaz took the fight on short notice as a replacement for McGregor’s original opponent Rafael Dos Anjos and shocked the world by handing the then-featherweight champion his first defeat in the UFC.
https://youtu.be/G3ZsRG5gcNY?si=vAOP6EX4-yil60Ug
McGregor won an immediate rematch via majority decision just five months later and it seemed it would only be a matter of time before the pair would square off again. The rubber match never came, however, and Diaz fought out his UFC contract, finishing up with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in September of 2022.
Although he failed to enter the title picture during his career inside the Octagon, Perry is now regarded as one of the biggest draws in combat sports outside the UFC.
Jorge Masvidal
“Gamebred” was a mainstay in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions between 2013-2023. He twice fought for the 170lb title against Kamaru Usman but was unsuccessful both times. After leaving the UFC (and temporarily retiring) in 2023 he recently made his first foray into the world of boxing when he faced Nate Diaz.
McGregor invited the former IBF and WBA welterweight boxing champion into his camp as a sparring partner in the lead up to his infamous boxing match against Floyd “Money” Mayweather back in 2017. After sharing multiple clips of McGregor knocking down Malignaggi during the workouts all over social media, tensions between the pair spiralled and rumors circulated that they would meet in a boxing match further down the line.
Malignaggi has carved out a career as a boxing commentator and analyst and has worked on BKFC events since his retirement from fighting. At 42-years-old, could we see him tempted into one more fight with his old rival?
After Nurmagomedov conclusively beat “The Notorious” at UFC 229 back in 2018 to claim the UFC lightweight championship, the Irishman campaigned tirelessly for a rematch. His disappointment at Khabib announcing his retirement just two years later was captured on camera during the filming of his documentary McGregor Forever, and the Dubliner has never missed an opportunity to berate Nurmagomedov when given the chance in the years that have passed.
Jake Paul and Mike Perry weighed in today to make their bout official. MMA News has the results here!
Internet sensation and boxing star Jake Paul returns to the ring after an impressive knockout win against Ryan Bourland earlier this year.
He was initially slated to face Mike Tyson in a groundbreaking matchup on Netflix this Saturday. However, the legendary heavyweight boxer had to postpone the fight due to an illness. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship fan favorite Mike Perry will step in on short notice and looks to stun the boxing world with a win over “The Problem Child.”
All fighters competing on the card had to weigh in ahead of their matchups. The main event became official after Paul’s second attempt at making the cruiserweight limit on his second attempt.
Since transitioning from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing in 2022, Perry has enjoyed a career renaissance. He is undefeated with five wins, including over Eddie Alvarez, Michael “Venom” Page, and Luke Rockhold. Perry’s last bare-knuckle boxing appearance was a knockout win over Thiago Alves in the first round at BKFC KnuckleMania 4 on April 27. While “Platinum” Perry has found a new sport to thrive in, facing Paul will be a different challenge than he has faced before.
This Saturday’s matchup for Paul will be vital as he hopes to fight Tyson later this year. The highly anticipated bout has been rescheduled for November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 9-1 boxer will be highly motivated to dispatch Perry to send a message to “Iron Mike.” Paul also has the knockout power and professional boxing experience to give Perry more than he can handle. That said, Perry has shown to be tough to finish and is expected to give his all to defy the odds against him.
Paul vs. Perry will occur at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Fans can watch the main card at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT by subscribing to DAZN and paying $64.99 for the pay-per-view. The prelims will stream for free on the DAZN YouTube Channel at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry Weigh-In Results
(Fight Card Is Subject To Change)
Main Card:
Cruiserweight: Jake Paul (200lbs) vs. Mike Perry (196.6lbs)
Women’s Super Lightweight: Amanda Serrano (136lbs) vs. Stevie Morgan (136.6lbs)
Lightweight: Ashton Sylve (134.4lbs) vs. Lucas Bahdi (134lbs)
Lightweight: Tony Aguilar (134.6lbs) vs. Corey Marksman (134.2lbs)
Cruiserweight: Julio César Chávez Jr. (197.8lbs) vs. Uriah Hall (199.6lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Women’s Super Middleweight: Shadasia Green (167.4lbs) vs. Natasha Spence (166.4lbs)
Middleweight: Alexis Chaparro (159lbs) vs. Kevin Hill (159lbs)
Super Bantamweight: Angel Barrientes (121.2lbs) vs. Edwin Rodriguez (122lbs)
Light Heavyweight: Ariel Perez (175lbs) vs. Dane Guerrero (174.4lbs)
Days out from their boxing showdown, Jake Paul and Mike Perry appeared in the ring for their open workouts.
Paul, a YouTuber-turned-pugilist, and Perry, a former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star, are set to do battle as the headline act of a DAZN pay-per-view event at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this weekend.
“The Problem Child’s” second match this year was originally scheduled to come this Saturday opposite legendary ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. But with the 58-year-old falling ill in the lead-up, their Netflix clash has been postponed to November.
In the meantime, Paul will now face a challenge widely branded more intriguing. While he hasn’t stepped foot in the ring for a professional boxing bout since an unsuccessful 2015 debut, Perry has found his niche in the bare-knuckle boxing world.
Having left the UFC, “Platinum” signed with BKFC and has since defeated notable names like Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez en route to a perfect 5-0 record in the gloveless sport.
Saturday’s event, dubbed “Fear No Man,” is set to begin at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the Paul vs. Perry ringwalks expected at around 12 AM ET/9 PM PT.
Ahead of the match, the pair appeared for the open workouts at the Armature Works in Tampa on Wednesday. You can check out a full replay of them below via the DAZN Boxing YouTube channel:
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 17, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Meltzer claims that Diaz vs. Masvidal did ‘horrible on PPV’
Paul & Perry trade words before July 20
City Kickboxing’s Jousset gets a big home fight in Paris
Report States That Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal’s Boxing Match Massively Underperformed On PPV
On a relatively quiet week for combat sports, former UFC stars Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal met inside a boxing ring.
But a recent report suggests that despite the event being heavily spoken about, fans were not willing to pay the pay-per-view price to watch it live.
Dave Meltzer stated on a recent episode of Observer Radio that the event did not perform well, comparing it to wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action (TNA), which has always had a tough time competing against the WWE before the two companies started working together as of late.
“It did horrible on PPV, it did TNA numbers. I’m not exaggerating. I knew it would not do well, but I was absolutely stunned how poorly it did. Nobody bought the fight. People are sick of seeing MMA fighters do boxing.”
Meltzer on Observer Radio, regarding Diaz-Masvidal fight – “It did horrible on PPV, it did TNA numbers. I’m not exaggerating. I knew it would not do well, but I was absolutely stunned how poorly it did. Nobody bought the fight. People are sick of seeing MMA fighters do #BOXING”
Before they can meet on July 20 in a change of opponent for Paul, who was scheduled to be taking on Mike Tyson on this date, the two men came face to face.
As you can expect from two bold characters, there were some certainly unique moments during their conversation. That included, at one point, both men seemingly doing “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan impressions.
The highlight of the entire video was certainly the following quote from Perry, who has always had an unparalleled way with words…
“Your little baby green punches can’t even f****** reach my brain stem bro. I’m gonna dig through your eyeball and find your memories.”
Paul responded in the same way that pretty much everybody else would when being told that by the “King of Violence.”
“Please don’t do that. Please don’t do that Mikey.”
Mike Perry to Jake Paul: "I’m gonna dig through your eyeball and find your memories" pic.twitter.com/hEn7yKqqh8
Kevin Jousset Books Home Fight In Paris Against Former TUF Winner
Rising UFC welterweight and City Kickboxing fighter Kevin Jousset has got his next assignment, and it’s sure to be a bucket list one for him.
The French fighter will finally be getting the opportunity to compete in front of his home fans when he makes the walk on September 28 in Paris.
MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that Jousset is set to make his third Octagon appearance against The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner Bryan Battle.
Having competed in Australia and Las Vegas since signing to the promotion, it’s time for “Air” to get the home fighter treatment following his impressive winning streak.
Mike Perry recently voiced his apprehension about inciting fan outrage if he were to pursue a future boxing match against the legendary, yet much older, Mike Tyson.
Perry is currently slated to fight Jake Paul on July 20 in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
We’re set to fight July 20th , I Promise to give the world the Fight they wanna see ! Gonna put the Platinum pressure on the problem child Live in Tampa, tickets on sale tomorrow at noon ! pic.twitter.com/V3WfZSRKK5
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) June 18, 2024
This matchup was announced after Paul’s planned fight against “Iron Mike” on the same date was pushed to November 15 due to the former undisputed heavyweight champion’s health scare.
The upcoming bout against Paul presents a tremendous opportunity for “Platinum” to elevate his profile on a grander stage. Already thriving as a bare-knuckle fighter, Perry is the biggest star in BKFC, boasting impressive victories over notable opponents like Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez.
Despite securing the fight due to unexpected circumstances, Perry is eager to compete against Tyson if he secures a win against the YouTuber-turned-boxer on July 20.
However, the former UFC welterweight fighter is cautious of potential public outcry, as many might disapprove of the matchup due to the significant age difference…
Perry Eyes Tyson Fight But Hesitant About Public Reaction
During a recent ESPN MMA interview, Perry was asked if he would consider fighting Tyson next, should he defeat “The Problem Child” and take his spotlight on November 15. “Platinum” eagerly affirmed his desire to face the boxing icon.
“Yes, absolutely. Of course, man, I’m thinking about that. I would definitely do it.”
However, the 32-year-old Michigan native acknowledged that facing Tyson would be the biggest matchup of his career, and he doesn’t want to provoke public backlash unnecessarily. For now, he is concentrating solely on his fight with Paul.
“The comments can be negative already, anyway, so now they’re going to say, ‘Oh, now you’re gonna fight the old guy.’ The internet is undefeated. That’s the one fight I don’t want to have is Mike Perry vs. the internet because I could be the guy to beat the internet, bro. Fighting Mike Tyson would be obviously be cool but I’m just focused on July 20, man. I gotta have tunnel vision, this is my opportunity to show the world.”
“Iron Mike” hasn’t fought professionally since retiring during his bout against Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson made a comeback in November 2020, stepping into the squared circle for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., which ended in a draw.
Former UFC title challenger Darren Till is set to finally make his combat sports return this weekend after taking a late-notice fight at Social Knockout 3 in Dubai.
It has taken him a long time to get back in the mix, and after having this big fight collapse, he doesn’t want to lose out on the big opportunities that could have come with getting a win on July 20.
Darren Till Talks Wanting To Face Jake Paul & Mike Perry, Predicts Their Upcoming Fight
In an interview with Fred Talks Fighting ahead of his return to competition, Till laid out his plans for the near future.
Regardless of what happens on July 20, he is hoping to face either Mike Perry or Jake Paul, and there’s no denying that both fights would be big occasions for “The Gorilla.”
“I think it’s either Jake Paul or Mike Perry at this point. Me and Mike Perry have got a lot of history. … It’s always beef, it’s always war with Mike. We always push for war, never peace.”
Till also gave his prediction for the upcoming clash between Perry and Paul that was announced shortly after the postponement of the Tyson fight.
The former UFC fighter finds it difficult to call a winner because of what both men bring to the table, but he is leaning ever so slightly toward “The Problem Child.”
“I keep 50:50 on both, some days I say Jake ‘cause I know Jake’s the bigger man, but then I don’t think you can rule Perry out. Perry’s a tough man and he’s been beating all these veterans now. like, I think it’s a 50:50. I’m gonna sway towards Jake a little bit more.”
Thiago Alves is looking for the biggest fight possible.
Thiago Alves has been a professional fighter since 2001. He has been involved in some very exciting matchups over the years. Now that he has 38 professional MMA fights and two bare-knuckle fights on his résumé, he isn’t looking to slow down. In fact, Alves is looking for the biggest fight he can get. Right now, that might be a bout with Mike Perry.
Alves spent fourteen years in the UFC. Following his release, Alves decided to sign a contract with BKFC. He has found success in BKFC and is now the middleweight champion. Bare-knuckle fighting has found its niche in combat sports and now has a real following.
More former UFC fighters are heading that way, and maybe the most popular among them is Mike Perry. Perry just had his first fight with BKFC and Alves was watching.
“He looked good. He’s not going to look that good against me though,” Alves told TMZ Sports via MiddleEasy. “I hope we can make this fight happen. It was supposed to happen in 2017. I’m looking forward to that knuckling up.”
Alves is looking to take on Perry in his next fight. Perry was also interested in this matchup as well, so the odds of it happening seem pretty good. Alves believes that this could be the biggest fight in BKFC yet.
“Without a doubt [it will be the biggest fight ever]. Mike Perry is like the new generation, you know, he has a lot of hype behind him. Didn’t do as much as I’ve done in the sport, you know, I’ve been a lot longer than he has, but as right now, I don’t see any bigger fight in the making for the organization,” Alves said. “So, Dave Feldman, let’s make it happen!”
Mike Perry is relieved he won his BKFC fight against Julian Lane.
Mike Perry just had his first bare-knuckle fight this past weekend, and he is happy he won, or else it could have been his last. Perry beat former UFC fighter Julian Lane in the main event of BKFC Knucklemania 2. This bare-knuckle venture for Perry was not supposed to be an “end of the road” type situation, but Perry explains how it could have turned out that way.
“He brought it as far as talkin’ trash, being there in the fight even after I hurt him—he tried,” Perry told MMA Fighting. “He brought it, he wanted to win, and I didn’t let him. And had it gone the other way, that would have been it for me. Like, you can’t lose to that guy, close or not. That’s the pressure that was on me.”
Mike Perry vs. Julian Lane at BKFC Knucklemania 2
This BKFC fight came after Perry fought out his UFC contract. During his time with the UFC, he went 7-8. The last few years were particularly bad, with Perry losing seven of his last ten fights. His release may have come much sooner had he not been such a colorful character. Perry’s attitude and antics outside the cage make him a draw and fans typically either love him or hate him.
Perry has also been in hot water with the law several times over the last few years. After his UFC departure, this opportunity at BKFC could have served as a new beginning. Now that he has won the fight bout via unanimous decision, there are plenty of opportunities for him in this promotion, if he chooses to stay. Bare-knuckle boxing has become very popular over the last year or so and having a character like Perry headlining cards is sure to make people want to tune in.
Perry is fitting the part with his ongoing unpredictable behavior. He even showed up to the pre-fight press conference with a baseball bat! “Platinum Mike” is certainly playing the part perfectly and maybe could find his way back to MMA soon.
Do you think Mike Perry would have quit fighting with a loss at BKFC to Julian Lane?
The card also featured former UFC veteran Chad Mendes making his boxing debut against Joshuah Alvarez, who came into the bout at 1-1. Additionally, Britain Beltran, who holds a BKFC victory over Paige VanZant, took on Christine Ferea for the inaugural women’s flyweight championship. And of course, there was the lightweight championship bout between champion Luis Palomino and challenger Martin Brown.
The event was available on the Bare Knuckle TV app with a $4.99 monthly subscription. You can catch the highlights from Mike Perry’s and Chad Mendes’ victories below followed by the quick results!
Here’s a story about tonight’s BKFC 2 Knucklemania headliner Mike Perry doing Mike Perry things…accidentally.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 3, 2019, 11:49 AM]
Headline: Leave It To Mike Perry To Lose Skateboard In A Sewer
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
One minute Mike Perry was practicing an ollie, the next his skateboard fell down a sewer.
It’s easy to see why Perry is in search of new hobbies. Known for being quite a unique character, Perry isn’t one to sit still. “Platinum” suffered a gnarly broken nose following his split decision loss to Vicente Luque last month. Perry is expected to take it easy to let the nose heal.
Mike Perry’s Skateboard Falls Down A Sewer
Perry’s efforts to start a new hobby in skateboarding didn’t exactly get off to an ideal start. On his Instagram page, “Platinum” posted a video revealing the dreadful fate of his skateboard.
“Watch this sh*t lmao can’t even practice new hobbies.”
When Perry is eventually cleared to return, he’ll look to get back in the win column. Perry hasn’t been able to string together two straight wins since Sept. 2017. Since that time, “Platinum” has gone 2-4. He scored wins over Paul Felder and Alex Oliveira, but fell to Santiago Ponzinibbio, Max Griffin, Donald Cerrone, and Luque.
While Perry has had a bit of a rough go inside the Octagon lately, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Some believe Perry should’ve been awarded the win against Luque. “Platinum” also has an exciting fighting style that is always fan-friendly and he’s not too shabby in the bonus department. It also helps to have a strong personality in the Endeavor era of the UFC.
Tonight, Mike Perry will be competing in a sanctioned bare-knuckle fight. Two years ago, he competed in an unsanctioned one.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 8, 2020, 9:46 PM]
Headline: Video: UFC Fighter Mike Perry Drops Patron In Bar Fight
Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.
UFC welterweight Mike Perry was involved in a bar fight where he dropped a patron.
Perry is known for having a unique personality. “Platinum” isn’t afraid to get in his opponent’s faces for staredowns as well as make some rather odd statements, such as his battle with taxes and wanting to stick his finger in Darren Till’s eye. Still, many fans brush it off as Perry being a unique character. It’s become apparent, however, that this goes beyond playing things up for marketability.
Mike Perry Drops Patron & The N-Word During Bar Fight
MMA Eejit posted a video showing Perry with a female companion, who looks to be his girlfriend Latory Gonzalez. Perry had Gonzalez as the lone cornerperson for his last outing against Mickey Gall. Here’s the footage but be warned, the language is NSFW.
It’s unclear what caused the argument in the first place but it’s clear Perry was quite heated with the female companion and other patrons. Perry called a man a “fat piece of sh*t” before dropping him after being shoved. After the incident, Perry was yelling at another female who was escorting him out of the bar as he felt she wasn’t on his side during the altercation. Perry also dropped the N-word several times and told people to “back the f*ck up.”
Perry was last seen in action back in late June. He earned a unanimous decision victory over Gall. It was a much-needed win for Perry, who was coming off back-to-back losses. Perry said he’s looking for the right team that he can bond with rather than have instructions shouted at him.
Tonight, Mike Perry will compete at BKFC 2: Knucklemania against Julian Lane. If things go his way, he might hit the bars to celebrate after the event. In the following article, we get a glimpse into what it’s like to spend a night drinking with Mike Perry…and Jon Jones.
The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JUNE 26, 2018, 2:58 PM]
Headline: Mike Perry Details Night Of Drinking With Jon Jones
Author: Jon Fuentes
Mike Perry and Jon Jones aren’t just Jackson Wink teammates now, but it appears they’re drinking buddies as well.
Platinum has since relocated from Florida to the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based mixed martial arts (MMA) gym as he prepares for his UFC 226 pay-per-view (PPV) clash with Yancy Medeiros on July 7th. Jones took the liberty of showing his new teammate around town.
They wound up at a bowling alley where they had “like 100 shots of tequila” (via MMA Junkie):
“He kept buying drinks, man,” Perry said on the “JW Raw” podcast. “I feel like he was buying shots and would look at me, and I would take the shot, and then he’d be like (throwing back the drink).”
Jones and Perry would hit the town again the following night, but Bones declared that “We ain’t gotta go as hard as we did last night.”
“I was like, ‘OK,’” Perry said. “He bought me a shot of something, and I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll take this one. Don’t buy me another one.’
“He was buying drinks for all these people. It was like a big old shot. And I looked at him, and he’s holding his drink, and he’s putting it up to his mouth, and he tilts the cup a little bit. I see him do that, and I’m like, alright, he’s taking it.
“So I took it, and then he goes, ‘Ah, man, I’m not even gonna.’ And I was like, ‘Aw, dang, bro! You’re getting me messed up out here!’”
The following story was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.
On This Day Two Years Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 9, 2020, 9:23 AM]
Headline: Mike Perry Takes Heat For Using N-Word In Social Media Beef With Michael Jai White
Mike Perry is defending himself after taking heat for using the N-word.
Perry hasn’t been one to shy away from controversy. “Platinum” is known for being outspoken and some have said his personality is an acquired taste. Some, however, believe that Perry has gone too far with his insult towards actor and martial artist Michael Jai White.
Mike Perry Gets Flak For Saying N-Word, Responds
Perry recently took to Twitter to challenge White to a “backyard bare-knuckle” fight.
I just feel like #KimboSlice would beat the fuck outta @MichaelJaiWhite and his tone in the video really bothered me. He should fight me backyard bare knuckle because I would like to learn this “prison movie technique” he was talking about #PPV#Or#For#Free 🤷🏼♂️
“I just feel like #KimboSlice would beat the fuck outta @MichaelJaiWhite and his tone in the video really bothered me. He should fight me backyard bare knuckle because I would like to learn this ‘prison movie technique’ he was talking about #PPV #Or #For #Free.”
White fired back at Perry with an offer of his own.
Maybe if MP learned my “Prison Movie Technique” he wouldn’t be ranked #20?😏I got no time for playground callouts Brother but holla when you come thru and maybe I’ll have time to give you a personal demo. Just DM me Bro. It really ain’t that hard! https://t.co/kxKdE5BTzO
“Maybe if MP learned my ‘Prison Movie Technique’ he wouldn’t be ranked #20? I got no time for playground callouts Brother but holla when you come thru and maybe I’ll have time to give you a personal demo. Just DM me Bro. It really ain’t that hard!”
Perry would go on to question what credibility White has when it comes to world-class competition.
What’s your world class rank ? I’m the real deal. I know it. I leveled up the intensity of the whole sport soon as I hit the world stage. You fight on playgrounds in your movies. Fight me in a pro fight and let the world watch. @danawhite ‘s backyard . https://t.co/8CrmWsNURT
“What’s your world class rank ? I’m the real deal. I know it. I leveled up the intensity of the whole sport soon as I hit the world stage. You fight on playgrounds in your movies. Fight me in a pro fight and let the world watch. @danawhite ‘s backyard .”
Things took a turn when Perry used the N-word in an attempt to goad White into a fight.
Perry caught flak for his use of the N-word from fans and even UFC strawweight Angela Hill.
White people using ‘nigga’ to insult a black person, I don’t give a fuck what your intentions were, it ain’t right. The few times I’ve run into Perry during fights he’s seemed cool, this isn’t cool. https://t.co/4PnQ5vHKVl
“White people using ‘nigga’ to insult a black person, I don’t give a fuck what your intentions were, it ain’t right. The few times I’ve run into Perry during fights he’s seemed cool, this isn’t cool.”
Perry isn’t likely to apologize anytime soon.
You have to make a big deal out of this. A white man said that to you because you straight up being one. Y’all can’t act like you don’t hear me. It was bull shit he was trying to slander a real gangsta so people would think he more than an actor. For #FLA we say #FOH
“You have to make a big deal out of this. A white man said that to you because you straight up being one. Y’all can’t act like you don’t hear me. It was bull shit he was trying to slander a real gangsta so people would think he more than an actor. For #FLA we say #FOH”
