Mike Perry (right) - Photo by Nick Vespe for Bare Knuckle FC
‘King of Violence’ Mike Perry set to return to MMA
Mike Perry, widely known as bare-knuckle boxing’s “King of Violence,” is preparing to return to mixed martial arts after ending his association with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
The former UFC fan favorite became one of BKFC’s biggest stars, helping elevate the promotion through his high-profile performances. During his time in the bare-knuckle ring, Perry secured notable victories over Michael “Venom” Page, former UFC champion Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez.
However, Perry has not competed for BKFC since knocking out Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last year. Following an extended period of contract negotiations, speculation grew that the fighter was considering opportunities elsewhere, a potential setback for the promotion given his status as one of its leading attractions.
After rebuilding his career in bare-knuckle fighting, Perry now appears ready to return to MMA and compete with gloves once again.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Perry discussed his decision to move on from BKFC and pursue a new challenge.
“ That bare-knuckle stuff, it’s like a cheat code. I was good at it; it was fun, I made some noise doing it. And I’m ready for another challenge,” Perry said.
“I think MMA is in my foreseeable future, and I’m going to give it my best shot. I kind of did my thing over [at BKFC], and now it looks like we’re going a different way. I think it’s gloves for me…for at least two years.”
Perry had recently been linked to a potential BKFC headliner against longtime rival Darren Till, who most recently defeated Yoel Romero. However, with Perry now departing the promotion, a matchup between the two appears unlikely in the near future.
Perry has already made a return to MMA this year, defeating former UFC superstar Nate Diaz on the undercard of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event. He could also reunite with MVP MMA as the promotion prepares for its full launch next year.
A possible return to the UFC remains another option. Perry competed under the UFC banner for five years, from 2016 to 2021, before leaving the promotion following a defeat to Daniel Rodriguez in April 2021.
With his BKFC chapter seemingly behind him, Perry is now looking toward the next phase of his fighting career, with MMA emerging as his primary focus for at least the next two years.
