Mike Perry, a veteran brawler who has found success in bare-knuckle fighting, is considering returning to boxing for potential high-profile matchups, naming Jorge Masvidal, Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz, and the Paul brothers as possible opponents.
Mike Perry has certainly found his niche in bare-knuckle fighting. However, he may need to strap on the gloves again for some of his biggest potential matches.
He’s fresh off his fourth consecutive win, a second-round TKO over ex-UFC champ Eddie Alvarez at BKFC 56. Perry’s been pondering his next move, dropping names like Jorge Masvidal and Anthony Pettis as possible opponents. There are other big-name fighters out there, but Perry’s unsure if they’ll step into the ring for a bare-knuckle bout.
UFC veteran Nate Diaz is on Perry’s radar, as are Jake Paul and Logan Paul. The Paul brothers previously hired Perry as a backup for their recent boxing matches.
“I want to fight bare-knuckle,” Perry declared on The MMA Hour. He’s smitten with the sport but hasn’t ruled out donning boxing gloves again. Nate Diaz’s recent loss to Jake Paul has Perry contemplating a match with Diaz.
The prospect of a fight with Masvidal is particularly exciting for Perry. “He can hurt me bad, I think. That’s what gets me up in the morning. That’s what makes me work.”
Bare-knuckle fighting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Perry feels right at home. He was even dubbed the “King of Violence” after breaking Alvarez’s orbital bone in a brutal two-round battle.
While Perry is open to boxing again, he’s hoping a big name in combat sports will accept his BKFC challenge. “These guys are afraid to do no gloves,” Perry said. He believes fear can be a powerful motivator in a fight and is eager for someone to step up.
Perry is confident in his draw as a fighter, crediting BKFC for their promotion. He’s willing to fight with gloves on if that’s what it takes to secure a big match. “That would be a play date,” he said.
Darren Till is another name Perry hears frequently as a potential opponent. Till is currently a free agent after being released from the UFC. However, Till has stated he’s not interested in bare-knuckle fighting. If Till were to change his mind, Perry would want him to gain some experience before stepping into the ring with him.
Despite his recent win, Perry was disappointed that Alvarez only lasted four minutes. His ultimate goal is to find an opponent willing to endure five rounds with him. Perry didn’t mince words when addressing Till. “P****,” he said. He would want Till to have a practice shot before facing him.
Perry was excited about fighting Alvarez because of his experience. He learned a lot from his first fight and wants no excuses from future opponents.