Jake Paul also wants Mike Perry to enter MMA.
Paul (9-1) will face Perry (0-1) in an eight-round cruiserweight boxing bout on July 20 in Tampa, Fla., on DAZN pay-per-view. “The Problem Child” is currently double-booked in boxing, facing Perry in July and Mike Tyson in November.
Paul still insists on making his MMA debut and has previously offered Nate Diaz a large amount of money to fight in the cage. PFL CEO Pete Murray told MMA Junkie that Paul's MMA debut will likely occur in 2025, and after boxing, Paul would be open to fighting Perry again, but in an MMA bout.
“I'm for it. If I can beat Mike Perry in boxing, I want to do it in MMA,” Paul said in an interview with DAZN. “I want to do an MMA fight. The (PFL) Smart Cage is literally right around the corner.”
“If I take up mixed martial arts, my wrestling experience will come in handy and I think I will be a very dangerous mixed martial artist. So I understand Mike Perry. My hands are three-sided.”
Perry made a counterproposal: The BKFC star suggested they fight instead in bare-knuckle boxing, a sport in which Perry has never lost.
“Cap, why don't you do it bare-handed? Why don't you box bare-handed?” Perry responded. “I've got Jake's back. Wrestling and jiu-jitsu aren't things you just keep in your back pocket.”
Perry has not competed in MMA since losing by decision to Daniel Rodriguez in August 2021. After 15 Octagon bouts, Perry parted ways with UFC later this year.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie.
