Tag: UFC News

Former UFC welterweight contender, Mike Perry has claimed his path to sobriety was aided by the forming of his family with his mother, partner and child, claiming an epiphany regarding their safety led to his decision to stop drinking.

Perry, a former Octagon contender and current BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) megastar, has so far enjoyed an impressive run in the David Feldman-led promotion, scoring a perfect run of five straight victories.

And most recently taking on veteran Brazilian star and former UFC welterweight title challenger, Thiago Alves, Flint native, Perry stopped the American Top Team staple with a dominant opening round knockout win in the main event of BKFC Knucklemania IV back in April of last year.

Yet to return to the ring in the time since, Perry has been linked heavily in recent weeks with a massive fight with former undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler, with the above-mentioned, Feldman claiming the promotion are working on a deal for the pairing to take place later this annum.

“Yeah, we’re working on it,” David Feldman told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned when asked if Mike Perry is targeted to fight Robbie Lawler in his return. “We’re working on it with the UFC… Yeah, before, (Mike Perry’s fight with Jake Paul) yeah. Like, they were scared to death of him. And now, but they’re forgetting that this is still bare knuckle. It’s not boxing. (0:47) They’re not going to box Mike Perry.”

Mike Perry reveals road to sobriety ahead of BKFC return

And ahead of his return to fighting later this year, fan-favorite finisher, Perry revealed he has stopped drinking and entered sobriety — in a bid to “protect” his family.

“I’m fortunate to have my mother live with me,” Mike Perry told the Jake Shields’ Fight Back Podcast. “I have my wife, my daughter, and my son. I also bring my mother-in-law out, and she helps work on the house sometimes when I’m deep in fight camp or about to enter fight week, things like that. So, you know, I’m like, who’s going to protect them? You know what I mean? It’s me. I’ve got to protect them. And if they’re ever worried about something, you know, that’s what women do sometimes—they worry about having to be protected from me.

“What if they had to be protected?” Mike Perry questioned. “Well, it wouldn’t come to that. I would go out drinking before that happened, but, you know, I’m not allowed to do that either. You know what I mean? They need me here. I’ve got to pick stuff up at the house, I’ve got to take the groceries out of the car. You know, I’m just a grown man now. I’ve got to do what others need me to do, the ones I care about. And, um, I get to fight for money. And luckily, after all the hard battles I’ve had over the years, I’m finally being compensated better. And I’m still learning a lot.”

Former UFC welterweight contender, Mike Perry has claimed his path to sobriety was aided by the forming of his family with his mother, partner and child, claiming an epiphany regarding their safety led to his decision to stop drinking.

Perry, a former Octagon contender and current BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) megastar, has so far enjoyed an impressive run in the David Feldman-led promotion, scoring a perfect run of five straight victories.

And most recently taking on veteran Brazilian star and former UFC welterweight title challenger, Thiago Alves, Flint native, Perry stopped the American Top Team staple with a dominant opening round knockout win in the main event of BKFC Knucklemania IV back in April of last year.

Yet to return to the ring in the time since, Perry has been linked heavily in recent weeks with a massive fight with former undisputed UFC welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler, with the above-mentioned, Feldman claiming the promotion are working on a deal for the pairing to take place later this annum.

“Yeah, we’re working on it,” David Feldman told Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned when asked if Mike Perry is targeted to fight Robbie Lawler in his return. “We’re working on it with the UFC… Yeah, before, (Mike Perry’s fight with Jake Paul) yeah. Like, they were scared to death of him. And now, but they’re forgetting that this is still bare knuckle. It’s not boxing. (0:47) They’re not going to box Mike Perry.”

Mike Perry reveals road to sobriety ahead of BKFC return

And ahead of his return to fighting later this year, fan-favorite finisher, Perry revealed he has stopped drinking and entered sobriety — in a bid to “protect” his family.

“I’m fortunate to have my mother live with me,” Mike Perry told the Jake Shields’ Fight Back Podcast. “I have my wife, my daughter, and my son. I also bring my mother-in-law out, and she helps work on the house sometimes when I’m deep in fight camp or about to enter fight week, things like that. So, you know, I’m like, who’s going to protect them? You know what I mean? It’s me. I’ve got to protect them. And if they’re ever worried about something, you know, that’s what women do sometimes—they worry about having to be protected from me.

“What if they had to be protected?” Mike Perry questioned. “Well, it wouldn’t come to that. I would go out drinking before that happened, but, you know, I’m not allowed to do that either. You know what I mean? They need me here. I’ve got to pick stuff up at the house, I’ve got to take the groceries out of the car. You know, I’m just a grown man now. I’ve got to do what others need me to do, the ones I care about. And, um, I get to fight for money. And luckily, after all the hard battles I’ve had over the years, I’m finally being compensated better. And I’m still learning a lot.”

Backed to fight for the title in his return to action, Khamzat Chimaev has warned his UFC middleweight peers that if afforded the opportunity to compete for gold next — nobody at 185lbs can stop his championship reign.

Chimaev, who retains the number three rank at middleweight, has been sidelined since last October, where he turned in his stunning fourteenth straight win with a spectacular first round face crank submission win over former champion, Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi.

And pegged by UFC CEO, Dana White to fight for a championship in his return to action off the back of the win, the long-time promotional boss confirmed Chimaev will likely challenge either Dricus du Plessis or Sean Strickland for gold — with the duo set to rematch next month at UFC 312.

Khamzat Chimaev claims no one can stop him from winning gold this annum

On social media this afternoon, the Chechen issued a stark warning to his competition at the middleweight limit, claiming if he ever gets a chance to compete for the belt, nobody on the promotional roster can stop him from landing the crown.

“2025 I will take this belt InShAllah, and no one can stop it,” Khamzat Chimaev posted on his official X account.

2025 I will take this belt InShAllah, and no one can stop it

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) January 27, 2025

Furthermore, Chimaev’s chances of fighting for gold next were backed by the incumbent, du Plessis, who claims he would have preferred to fight the former rather than rematching Strickland next month in Sydney.

“Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Whittaker. I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision like I said I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs Withaker. I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision like I said I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.

— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) December 10, 2024

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold has urged the GFL (Global Fight League) to pursue the signature of fellow ex-champion, Michael Bisping to a deal in order for them to settle their rivalry in the form of a trilogy rubber match in the newly-launched promotion.

Rockhold, a former undisputed middleweight champion during his tenures with the UFC and the now-defunct, Strikeforce, is set to make his return to mixed martial arts later this year, after he was drafted on the Dubai team roster — under the tutelage of coaches, Cain Velasquez, and Javier Mendez under the banner of the GFL.

Sidelined from mixed martial arts since leaving the UFC off the back of a hard-fought decision loss to former title chaser, Paulo Costa back in 2022, Rockhold has already identified a potential pair of fights he would like to chase in his debut outing with the GFL.

“I like all the matchups (in the UFC) so you never know, I’m still fighting, I still feel good, I’m still getting in the game but first things first, we’ve got (Chris) Weidman, we’ve got Gegard (Mousasi), we’ve got some fun fights (in the GFL),” Luke Rockhold told Submission Radio during a recent interview.

Luke Rockhold urges GFL to sign Michael Bisping to settle rivalry in trilogy fight

Furthermore, Santa Cruz native, Rockhold reflected on his pairing with Costa, claiming unbeaten middleweight star, Khamzat Chimaev refused to fight him in his return to action three years ago.

“Khamzat (Chimaev) turned down a fight against me, when I was supposed to come back, my first fight back before Paulo Costa, they [the UFC] tried to book that fight and he didn’t want to play,” Luke Rockhold explained.

And despite chasing a pair of fights with fellow middleweight icons, Weidman and Mousasi, decorated veteran, Rockhold has also urged the promotion to seduce Manchester fan-favorite, Bisping to a deal to fight in the GFL next — in order for them to settle their rivalry in a trilogy rubber match.

“Maybe they [the Global Fight League] can sign (Michael) Bisping too, bring his ass back,” Luke Rockhold concluded.