Tag: BKFC

Michael Page Explains Why Mike Perry Needs To “Be Careful” In London

Michael Page has sent upcoming opponent Mike Perry a warning ahead of his trip across the Atlantic to England’s capital later this summer. In one of 2022’s more bizarre and eyebrow-raising announcements, it was recently revealed that #2-ranked Bellator welterweight “Venom” Page will square off with former UFC fighter “Platinum” Perry under the promotional banner…

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Michael Page has sent upcoming opponent Mike Perry a warning ahead of his trip across the Atlantic to England’s capital later this summer.

In one of 2022’s more bizarre and eyebrow-raising announcements, it was recently revealed that #2-ranked Bellator welterweight “Venom” Page will square off with former UFC fighter “Platinum” Perry under the promotional banner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

While Perry signed a multi-fight deal with BKFC last October and debuted with a victory over Julian Lane earlier this year, MVP remains under contract with Bellator. The Londoner only recently competed in the cage, falling short of interim gold against Logan Storey in the Bellator 281 headliner last month.

Keen to stay active and explore other opportunities before looking to resume his pursuit of MMA gold, and with the blessing of the Scott Coker-led promotion, Page has chosen to explore bare-knuckle boxing for the first time.

With that, he’ll go toe-to-toe with Perry at BKFC 27 in London on August 20.

The matchup will represent a stark contrast from Page’s latest opponent, who cut a largely respectful and low-key figure. There are many words to describe Perry, and low-key certainly isn’t one of them.

Perry’s antics were on full display prior to his BKFC debut in February. From a ringside brawl in Tampa to a heated press conference and pre-fight face-off, “Platinum” announced his arrival with an animosity-fueled bout.

While he didn’t catch the whole fight, Page unsurprisingly didn’t manage to avoid Perry and Lane’s back and forth on his social media feeds.

“I’ve seen him compete before, years and years ago when he was doing mixed martial arts,” Page said during an interview with MMA Underground’s John Morgan. “Then (his) bare-knuckle (debut) recently, I kept seeing his press conferences coming up on my feed, looked like they had a bit of an exciting press conference.”

While he’s hoping to interact with the ‘real’ Mike Perry come August, “Venom” did warn the Michigan native that he’ll be entering a city that might not take kindly to his usual antics.

“For me, personally, I enjoy anybody who’s just being themselves. If that’s him, then that is him. But yeah, you are coming to London. So, I’d suggest you be careful, just a little bit,” warned Page. “And it’s not because of me, it’s because of how other people will take it. They seem to take it a lot more serious than me… You might run into a little bit of trouble if you go too far.”

Perry has proved that he has little issue with playing the villain, something that’ll come in handy when he enters enemy territory to throw down with hometown boy Page.

Who do you think will have their hand raised on August 20, Michael Page or Mike Perry?

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Michael Page Details Why He’ll Fight Mike Perry At BKFC 27: “A Rite Of Passage As A Fighter”

Michael Page, Mike PerryMichael Page is slated to take on Mike Perry in a bare-knuckle boxing match. Reeling off a loss to Logan Storley in his most recent outing, Michael Page will switch gears for his next fight. The announcement of the standout Bellator star’s next fight might have surprised many. ‘Venom’ will make his bare-knuckle boxing debut […]

Michael Page, Mike Perry

Michael Page is slated to take on Mike Perry in a bare-knuckle boxing match.

Reeling off a loss to Logan Storley in his most recent outing, Michael Page will switch gears for his next fight. The announcement of the standout Bellator star’s next fight might have surprised many. ‘Venom’ will make his bare-knuckle boxing debut against the UFC veteran Mike Perry at BKFC 27.

Their bout will serve as the main event of the night this August 20 in Page’s hometown of London. Page has received Bellator’s blessings to compete under another promotion, a rare instance in the sport of MMA at an elite level.

Michael Page explains the fight in BKFC

“You know me, I like to make noise,” Page told MMA Junkie. “Through the blessing of Bellator and the sport of Bellator, because I wouldn’t be allowed to if it wasn’t for them, they said I wouldn’t be able to get back in there until October time. After that fight (against Logan Storley), I’m fresh. I’m burning to go. Let me box again, let me do something.

“My coaches hit me up and they said they might have an opportunity, but it’s obviously down to Bellator. I presented the opportunity to Bellator, they spoke to BKFC, and it’s just been moving quite quickly since then.

“Everyone is excited for it. I think it’s beneficial for everybody. It’s just going to make some noise, and I think it looks great for an organization like Bellator. It shows they’re supporting their fighters. You can see it with the potential collaboration, with Eagle FC as well. So they’re making moves and I’m the loudest one.”

Page talks about his interest in bare-knuckle fighting & Mike Perry

Besides Bellator allowing their former interim welterweight title holder to take his chops elsewhere, it’s the fact that Page will be fighting in bare-knuckle boxing that’s intriguing. The 35-year-old Englishman revealed his curiosity about the no-gloves fighting competition.

“Since it got legalized, I was definitely curious about doing it,” Page said. “More so because in my youth there were people that I looked up to, and they were doing it when it was a bit more underground. It was always something I thought of as a rite of passage as a fighter, a combatant, a warrior – which I class myself as.

“When it started getting more popular, I thought, ‘Yeah, maybe one day I might jump in there.’ I never thought it was going to be as quickly as this. But yeah, it’s definitely been on my mind.”

His opponent Mike Perry made his debut for BKFC earlier this year at KnuckleMania II and already holds a win under the banner against Julian Lane. He gained notoriety during his time in the UFC which saw him compete for five years before making the switch.

“He’s a beast, yeah, he’s great,” Page said. “I’m not going to work my way up, so it’s going to have to be the guys at the top. … I know he’s a tough guy. He’s a true warrior. Bare-knuckle definitely suits him, but that kind of style usually suits me as well. I’m just looking forward to putting on a spectacle for everyone that’s going to come.”

Report | Michael ‘Venom’ Page Set To Fight Mike Perry At BKFC 27

Michael 'Venom' Page, Mike PerryMichael ‘Venom’ Page will be taking on Mike Perry at BKFC 27. ‘Venom’ is reeling off a controversial split decision loss to Logan Storley at Bellator 281. MVP was on a six-fight win streak going into the fight and was defending his interim title in front of an English crowd. The second-ranked contender at welterweight […]

Michael 'Venom' Page, Mike Perry

Michael ‘Venom’ Page will be taking on Mike Perry at BKFC 27.

‘Venom’ is reeling off a controversial split decision loss to Logan Storley at Bellator 281. MVP was on a six-fight win streak going into the fight and was defending his interim title in front of an English crowd. The second-ranked contender at welterweight in the promotion has received its blessing to compete under a different banner, a rare occasion in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Michael Venom Page vs. Mike Perry set for BKFC 27

Page will be facing off against the UFC veteran Mike Perry this August 20 in London. The two will take to the ring in a bare-knuckle contest under BKFC. MVP will remain with Bellator and is being allowed an exception for this sole event.

Meanwhile, Perry has remained out of action for over a year since his last outing against Daniel Rodriguez, which he lost via unanimous decision. ‘Platinum’ dropped four in his last five bouts in the UFC and the promotion chose not to offer him a new contract.

Perry moved on to sign a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship following his free agency last April. His debut in the new sport came against Julian Lane at Knucklemania 2 in February. The 30-year-old Florida native came out on top in his first showing and will be looking to get another win against Page.

BKFC 27 will mark Michael Venom Page’s first outing in bare-knuckle fighting. The 35-year-old Englishman developed a reputation for his unorthodox style of striking. His antics during the fight and in celebration have brought him under fire from the community.

During his match with Cyborg Santos, Page landed a vicious flying knee to the head of Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos to snatch a knockout win. Following the victory, Page would infamously throw a Pokeball at him to mimic the cartoon show.

Are you excited to see Michael Venom Page debut in BKFC against Mike Perry?

Jimmie Rivera Reveals Biggest Worry About Bare Knuckle Boxing

Former UFC bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera is pumped for his Bare-Knuckle FC debut, but he knows some of the risks that come with it. Rivera signed with BKFC following a long tenure with the UFC which featured wins over the likes of Urijah Faber, John Dodson, and Pedro Munhoz. He’s set to make his first…

Continue Reading Jimmie Rivera Reveals Biggest Worry About Bare Knuckle Boxing at MMA News.

Former UFC bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera is pumped for his Bare-Knuckle FC debut, but he knows some of the risks that come with it.

Rivera signed with BKFC following a long tenure with the UFC which featured wins over the likes of Urijah Faber, John Dodson, and Pedro Munhoz. He’s set to make his first walk to the BKFC cage on June 24th against the undefeated featherweight Howard Davis.

Rivera will follow in the footsteps of Mike Perry, Paige VanZant, and Chad Mendes among former UFC fighters who have signed with BKFC. Along with watching their fights, he’s paid close attention to how they’ve handled the physical toll that can come with the sport.

During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Rivera talked about the challenges that come with switching to bare-knuckle boxing.

“I think one of the biggest concerns with going to BKFC isn’t getting hit. Everyone’s like ‘are you worried about getting hit with a bare knuckle’ and I’ve been kicked in the face with a shin, what do you think hurts more? A shin to my face or the knuckles? I’m not worried about getting punched, I’m more worried about punching and hitting someone on the top of the head or something like that.

“Mike Perry’s last fight, he stopped throwing as much because his hands hurt so bad from throwing. When I was watching his fight, his hands just landed on that guy’s face the whole time. He never really threw a bad shot. So I can’t imagine what your hands go through for those ten minutes, two five-minute rounds and how your hands feel afterward.

“I saw Chad Mendes did an interview and his hands were still puffy after the fight. So it’s more about where to hit rather than worrying about getting hit.”

Rivera will look to replicate Perry and Mendes’ early success in the BKFC ring. Perry most recently earned a win over Julian Lane while Mendes won his debut over Joshuah Alvarez back in February.

BKFC and bare-knuckle boxing, in general, have been the target of criticism in recent years for the sheer brutality of the fights. A matchup between former UFC fighter Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi showcased the damage that fighters can take from hitting someone without padding.

Rivera also told MMA News that he’s being paid 50% more than what he earned during his UFC contract. He’s happy in his new home at BKFC and will look to make a statement in his debut on June 24th.

What are your thoughts on Jimmie Rivera making the switch from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing?

Continue Reading Jimmie Rivera Reveals Biggest Worry About Bare Knuckle Boxing at MMA News.

Mike Perry Labels Sean Strickland ‘Racist, Nazi Motherf*cker’ In Tirade Against UFC Contender

Mike PerryUFC alum, Mike Perry recently took fire at surging current middleweight contender, Sean Strickland – labelling the North Carolina native a “racist” and a “Nazi motherf*cker” as well as offering to trade hands with the latter. Perry, who competed 15 times under the banner of the UFC, made the transition to BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting […]

Mike Perry

UFC alum, Mike Perry recently took fire at surging current middleweight contender, Sean Strickland – labelling the North Carolina native a “racist” and a “Nazi motherf*cker” as well as offering to trade hands with the latter.

Perry, who competed 15 times under the banner of the UFC, made the transition to BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) following an April 2021 unanimous decision loss against Californian kickboxer, Daniel Rodriguez.

Mike Perry is expected to compete under the BKFC banner later this year

Expected to return under the promotion’s banner later this year for his second BKFC outing, Perry, a native of Flint, Michigan made his organizational bow back in February at BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 – defeating fellow UFC alum, Julian Lane with a unanimous decision performance after the pair engaged in a notable pre-fight scuffle in the crowd of a prior event. 

As for Strickland, the highly-outspoken UFC middleweight contender, who recently saw his Twitter account suspended due to breaches of terms of service and the platform’s rules, is scheduled to return to the Octagon next month.

Booking a UFC 276 outing on July 2. during International Fight Week, Strickland, who most recently defeated Jack Hermansson in a headlining outing, is set to fight Brazilian knockout artists, former two-weight GLORY Kickboxing champion, Alex Pereira in a potential 185lb title-eliminator.

Taking aim at Strickland in a video posted on his social media, Perry welcomed a fight with the surging contender, whom he labelled as “racist”.

“Sean (Strickland), you racist, motherf*cker,” Mike Perry said in a video posted on his social media. “You coming to Florida to put hands on me? It’s Sunday, bro – the lord is resting. But this week, I’m down for you to try, and I’m going to put these hands on you. Let’s go Sean Strickland. Let’s go. Is that even your name? I don’t know. You might be Sean Sherk or one of these other UFC guys, you Nazi.”

Replying to Perry’s comments, Strickland claimed that Perry “cracks” him up, and claimed that he was top of his list of whom he wants to “put hands-on”.

“Lmao!!!! I gotta lot of people to punch but this man (Mike Perry) is on the top of the list!!!” Sean Strickland posted on his Instagram. “Guy cracks me up.” 

Appearing to welcome the opportunity to spar with Strickland in the future, Perry admitted that he was intoxicated when filming his video.

“Ahh man I was drinking but I’m looking forward to the rounds,” MIke Perry replied

Former UFC Title Challenger John Dodson to ‘Knuckle Up’ for Bare Knuckle FC

John DodsonFormer UFC title challenger John Dodson is taking off his gloves and stepping into the squared circle. Announced on Bare Knuckle FC’s official Twitter account, John ‘The Magician’ Dodson is the latest UFC alum to sign with the promotion. Dodson joins Chad Mendes, Mike Perry, and Jimmie Rivera who have already made the jump to […]

John Dodson

Former UFC title challenger John Dodson is taking off his gloves and stepping into the squared circle.

Announced on Bare Knuckle FC’s official Twitter account, John ‘The Magician’ Dodson is the latest UFC alum to sign with the promotion. Dodson joins Chad Mendes, Mike Perry, and Jimmie Rivera who have already made the jump to BKFC. Dodson’s official debut with the company has not been announced as of yet. 

John Dodson First Made a Name For Himself on The Ultimate Fighter

Dodson made his UFC debut on the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter. He immediately became a fan favorite with his infectious smile and genuine good nature. He would go on the win the tournament, defeating T.J. Dillashaw in the finals. Dodson would receive two opportunities to become the UFC flyweight champion, but fell short each time, losing to then flyweight king Demetrious Johnson by unanimous decision on both occasions.

‘The Magician’ would lose three of his last four inside the Octagon before moving on. Most recently he competed under the XMMA banner going 1-1. His last appearance in the cage came in April when he defeated Francisco Rivera Jr. at XMMA 4. Aside from this TUF victory over Dillashaw, Dodson also had notable wins against John Moraga, Eddie Wineland, Pedro Munhoz, and Nathaniel Wood. 

Are you excited to see John Dodson knuckle up for BKFC?