UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens has publicly requested a high-profile BKFC fight against Mike Perry. However, Perry suggests there`s a disconnect between Stephens` words and actions.
Stephens has been vocal about wanting to fight Perry since his victory over Eddie Alvarez at KnuckleMania 5 in January. Even with a scheduled UFC return in May, Stephens continues to express interest in a matchup with Perry.
Perry finds Stephens` demands for the fight to be unrealistic.
“These guys,” Perry commented to MMA Fighting, “These smaller fighters call me out and want me to cut down to 165 or 170 pounds.” He referenced Stephens mentioning on a podcast the idea of Perry cutting to 170 with weight restrictions post-weigh-in. This would limit Perry to gaining only 10% of his weight back, meaning he couldn`t exceed 190 pounds after weighing in at 170 – a difficult cut for Perry after recently struggling to make 200 pounds.
Perry believes 185 pounds is his ideal weight class, offering exciting matchups. He feels the extra weight is necessary to apply pressure and deliver powerful strikes, as he demonstrated in previous 185-pound fights. He highlighted his victory over Thiago Alves, who was considered the top bare-knuckle boxer before Perry`s arrival. Perry emphasized the dominant nature of his win over Alves, claiming a first-round knockout in under a minute.
Perry`s last fight was a boxing match against Jake Paul in July. His last BKFC appearance was nearly a year ago at KnuckleMania 4, where he defeated Alves. Perry boasts an undefeated BKFC record and has become a major star in the promotion with wins against Alvarez, Alves, former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, and current UFC fighter Michael Page.
Currently, Perry is focused on promoting Dirty Boxing 1 in Miami this Saturday. While occupied with this, he is also looking ahead to his next fight and provided an update on his BKFC return.
“Yes, my managers are in discussions with Dave,” Perry stated, referring to BKFC president Dave Feldman. “They are exploring options. At this level, money is a key factor in negotiations. Fights involving me are lucrative for both myself and my opponents. These deals take time to finalize. They are allowing me sufficient time to prepare since my last fight with Jake Paul. That fight didn`t go as planned, and this time allows me to regroup, regain my hunger, and ensure I`m fully prepared to compete at my best when I return to the ring.”
“We aim to create an exciting fight for the fans. It needs to be against a significant opponent who is beneficial for the organization, the fanbase, my opponent, and myself. It`s just a matter of time. My manager has indicated a potential return in May, although nothing is officially announced yet. We are hopeful for May, and `Platinum` Mike Perry anticipates a return soon.”
Perry understands his value to BKFC and potential opponents. He recognizes that any fight he participates in will generate significant interest. Therefore, he believes it`s worthwhile to aim high and seek out the biggest possible matchups.
“I would like to face Jake Paul in Dirty Boxing, or Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle or Dirty Boxing,” Perry expressed. “People might say I`m chasing `money fights,` but the reality is, I am a money fight. Fighters who earn $25,000 per fight are calling me out, which is understandable. The only bare-knuckle fighters interested in fighting me are those whose names don`t draw significant attention.”
“My next fight will be a major event. When it`s announced that `Platinum` Mike Perry is returning to the ring, it will generate significant buzz. Feldman has told me that if a certain high-profile opponent doesn`t materialize, they will offer me a fight against one of their top fighters at 185 pounds. To Mike `the Marine` Richmond, the 185-pound champion [who is fighting Josh Dyer next], respect for your service. But bare-knuckle fighting, that`s my service. Let`s make it happen.”
