There have been many champions that have graced the octagon over the decades. These fighters have gone on to deliver some of the best contests on the planet; mixing the various styles and dazzling crowds with technical skill. Athletes that gameplan for their foes with a combination of fight IQ and technical ability. Then there’s Mike ‘Platinum’ Perry. Born in Flint, Michigan, Perry was the typical angry kid with a chip on his shoulder. He found MMA and made his UFC debut in 2016, beating the living kimchi out of an overmatched and undeserving Lim Hyun-gyu. He went on to showcase his style of brawling and even picked up a few excellent wins against Paul Felder and Jake Ellenberger. But, as he faced stiffer competition it was clear that Perry was not cut out for the next level. Losses to Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal and Daniel Rodriguez saw him cut from the promotion.
A new beginning for Perry
Mike Perry’s fighting style and persona instantly made him a star but he just did not have the required skill to compete against the killers at the top of the welterweight division. But what made him such a fan-favourite fighter was going to change one company’s fortunes. Enter Bare Kunckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Known for his aggressive fighting style and willingness to brawl, Perry quickly signed with the fledgling organisation and instantly brought fevered excitement and intensity to fights. As soon as he stepped foot into the ring, it was clear that Mike Perry had found his true home.
He brutalised Julian ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane and even knocked former UFC 185lbs champ, Luke Rockhold’s teeth out. Perry also took it to Michael Page and caved Eddie Alvarez’s face in and in Sunday’s main event, knocked out UFC vet Thiago Alves in under a minute. And, judging from the revealed payouts, he also made a sweet $600,000 to boot!
The king of bare-knuckle
Moreover, Perry’s personality, characterised by his outspokenness and brash demeanour, attracted a ton of attention and viewership to BKFC events. BKFC often thrives on fighters who are not only skilled but are incredibly marketable, and Perry’s ability to generate hype and engage fans through his antics was more than beneficial for BKFC’s visibility and popularity. Additionally, the bare-knuckle format was built for Perry’s style, as it rewards fighters with power punches and accuracy. Without gloves, the impact of each strike is more significant, and Perry’s aggressive striking style was clearly effective in this environment.
If there’s one thing that is clear from this partnership is that there is a growing market for bare-knuckle fighting as evidenced by the crowd and social media presence. And, if there’s one guy who is the face of the company, it is serendipitous that Mike Perry is the man to fill that role.
