Mike Perry can now say his bare knuckle boxing debut came against a BKFC champion.
After 36 fights across combat sports, half of those being bare knuckle boxing matches, Julian Lane now holds BKFC gold around his waist.
For many years, Lane was mainly known for his viral tantrum on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season 16 where said, ‘Let me bang, bro,’ to a fellow contestant after losing his chance to get a UFC contract.
While he never made it to the UFC, ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane has made a name for himself in BKFC with five-straight wins in the Squared Circle. Lane defeated Gorjan Slaveski by decision to win the welterweight title in the BKFC 79 main event earlier this month.
Post-fight, Lane called out the BKFC’s ‘King of Violence’ Mike Perry for a rematch after previously going the distance in 2022.
Perry has weighed in on Lane’s recent title win.
Julian Lane wins BKFC Welterweight Championship at BKFC 79. Credit: BKFCMike Perry ‘happy’ for ‘savage’ BKFC Champion Julian Lane
Lane bounced between wins and losses for much of his MMA career, never able to get too much momentum.
From 2021 to 2023, Lane lost seven fights in a row, including a unanimous decision to a debuting Perry at Knuckle Mania 2.
In 2025, the 38-year-old Lane has won his last six fights, including an MMA bout.
“Man, I’m happy for Julian Lane,” Perry told Bloody Elbow when asked about his former foe.
“The success he’s been having, he’s on a six fight win streak. He’s a tough little savage guy, man. He really is. He is a savage.
“We had a savage fight back in the day,” Perry said of Lane.
“My first bare knuckle fight against a very experienced bare knuckle fighter. He still got a bunch of bare knuckle fights. He finally got some recognition with that bare knuckle title.
“You know, I do gotta say he didn’t beat a champion, I don’t think,” Perry said of Lane’s last opponent Gorjan Slaveski, who he mentioned was a ‘great competitor’.
“So, let’s see Julian keep it going. I know he’s been out there saying he wants to fight for that King of Violence Mike Perry reacts to ‘savage’ rival Julian ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane finally becoming BKFC champion. I wanna fight at 185. Bare Knuckle’s gonna do whatever the hell they want and offer me a fight, and I’m probably just gonna accept it.
“I’ve been dieting hard. I’m still afraid of the weight cut. Like, it’s gonna happen, but I’m just hoping that I’ll make it,” Perry said ahead of his middleweight bout against Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 on Oct. 4.
Julian Lane gets new tattoo like Cody Garbrandt
Lane got a new face tattoo following his BKFC title win.
The BKFC Welterweight Champion took after his ‘The Ultimate Fighter 25’ coach and former UFC Champ Cody Garbrandt by getting a tattoo across his face and eye.
Instead of getting a sword like Garbrandt, Lane got a cross for his faith.
“For nothing will be impossible with God,” Lane quoted a Bible verse after getting his cross tattoo.