A return to UFC is not out of the question for Mike Perry.
BKFC's Mike Perry on what it will take to return to UFC: “I need to be undeniable like Max Holloway”
Perry's time with the premier promotion was memorable, with the fan favorite fighting 15 times between 2016 and 2021. Soon after, Perry explored the free agent route, eventually Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) 5 consecutive wins.
“Platinum” has the opportunity of a lifetime to face Jake Paul in a coveted boxing match this weekend. Paul (9-1) was originally scheduled to face Mike Tyson, but the bout had to be postponed to Nov. 15 after the former heavyweight champion was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.
Four other former UFC stars have tried and failed to challenge Paul, and Perry is aiming to become the first fighter to knock out the influencer-turned-boxer, but a win on Saturday would give Perry more than just bragging rights.
Mike Perry's longtime manager, Malki Kawa, said the UFC seemed interested in re-signing the former welterweight after seeing his performance outside the Octagon during his three years in the sport.
“If Mike Perry knocks out Jake Paul, the door to the UFC will be open again,” Kawa said. Overdogs Podcast“I've already gotten calls and told him I want him back and all that stuff. I got the calls and I've been going through it in my head. I don't know if I've told him yet. Right now I don't know if it makes sense. I don't know if it makes sense. I've thought about what it would mean for him in the long run…”
Kawa says that if Perry hadn't joined UFC a few years ago, the organization would have signed the “King of Violence” right away, citing the spirited and exciting fighting style he has demonstrated time and time again both in the cage and in the BKFC ring.
“If Mike Perry hadn't gone to the UFC today, if you took some tape of his fights and said, this kid is Mike Perry, he was at the UFC right this moment, they'd sign him in two seconds because that's the type of fighter they want,” Kawa said of Perry.
“You can't be a boring black belt, 13th degree world champion in jiu-jitsu. You have to be an entertaining fighter, and that's what Mike is. That's why he wants to come back,” Kawa continued. “Look at Paige VanZant. She wants to come back. [Power] slap.”
Perry has previously been asked about a possible return to UFC, and has said he would need to be well-paid if he were to fight there again.
“I'm the only one outside of the UFC that's getting any attention,” Perry said. MMA Junkie “They even said, 'Come back to UFC,' but UFC wants to pay the bodybuilders $10,000, $10,000. For the new guys, $10,000, $10,000…”
“Who's going to pay for an MMA fight? Nobody. Right now it's boxing fights. My only chance is… like Max Holloway says, I need to become undeniable. If I remain undeniable then maybe one day MMA or UFC will be an option for me,” Perry added.
Mike Perry went 7-8 at UFC, facing fights against Geoff Neal, Vicente Luque, Donald Cerrone, and Paul Felder. With Perry likely at the peak of his career, it will be interesting to see if a second trip to the UFC awaits “Platinum.”
continue MMA Knockout For more daily UFC, MMA, WWE and AEW news, come here.
Follow MMA Knockouts twitterInstagram and Facebook.
