Mike Perry, known in combat sports as “Platinum,” has enjoyed tremendous success since leaving the UFC in 2021, compiling a perfect 6-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing. Yet the 34-year-old fighter admits he still feels drawn to the UFC octagon. Perry has even spoken with UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard about the possibility of returning—on one condition.
“I want on the White House card,” Perry told Ariel Helwani. “You come to America and I feel like I’m a very exciting fighter that would love to fight at the White House with the country flag, representing.”
During his time in the UFC, Perry compiled a 7-8 record, ending his tenure with four losses in his last five fights. His most notable victories came against Paul Felder, Jake Ellenberger, Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira, and Lim Hyun-gyu. After leaving MMA, Perry embraced bare-knuckle boxing and has made a name for himself with aggressive performances.
In his latest BKFC bout, Perry defeated fellow UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens via fifth-round stoppage.
“I bounced out [of the UFC]. I beat Jeremy. He got to go back,” Perry said, noting the inspiration he drew from Stephens’ own journey.
Despite thriving in BKFC, Perry hasn’t lost sight of why he became a fighter.
“I’m a tough fighter. I’m very interested in it,” he said about a UFC return. “It’s always something I thought about as far as back in the day, when I knew that I wanted to go toward the UFC from watching PRIDE and UFC guys go back-and-forth, [Quinton] ‘Rampage’ [Jackson] and Wanderlei [Silva]. I think about all these old-school fights in my head, about what made me get into fighting.”
Negotiations and Future Opponents
While financially secure from his BKFC success, Perry indicated he wouldn’t demand massive sums to fight on the White House card. Referencing Conor McGregor’s rumored $100 million ask, he laughed, noting he would fight for “less than half” that amount.
He also expressed interest in facing Nate Diaz, either in bare-knuckle boxing or in his Dirty Boxing promotion.
“That’s a good spot for that fight, but if he would prefer it be boxing, I mean, he did a boxing match against Jorge Masvidal,” Perry said.
What’s Next for Perry
Perry remains flexible as he weighs his options across combat sports. Aside from a canceled 2024 boxing match with Jake Paul, he’s focused primarily on bare-knuckle bouts, though a UFC return is on the table.
“Most likely, best option, BKFC is going to come to the table with the best offer, to be honest,” he said. “I just prepare for that and [my return fight] may be early next year.”
With a perfect record in bare-knuckle boxing and his sights set on a historic UFC card, Mike Perry is positioning himself for a high-profile fight that could capture attention across multiple combat sports.
Published on November 4, 2025 at 9:07 am
Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news, rumors, and updates by following the RED Monster on
Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, and Instagram. Also, don’t forget to add MiddleEasy to your Google News feed
for even more coverage.