Earlier this week, UFC welterweight Mike Perry appeared on The MMA Hour, coming off a big 1st round TKO of South Korea’s Hyun Gyu Lim on the UFC 202 main card. Perry was asked about the controversy that arose when it was revealed that one of his cornermen — later confirmed to be UFC middleweight Alex Nicholson — used a racist taunt during the pre-fight introductions.
“He can’t even open his motherf**king eyes,” Nicholson said, making a reference to Lim.
Nicholson later wrote on Twitter that he was just “hype for his brother” and admitted his comments towards Lim were “insensitive,” but nothing further on the subject.
When Ariel Helwani asked for Perry’s thoughts on the situation, he had this to say. (Transcription via MMAFighting)
“Well, I guess I said something about it, which isn’t my place,” he said. “I think it needs to be taken up with him, that individual, more than my words. I can’t speak for another man. I do know that man well, and I know he’s a kind-hearted individual who loves all people he comes across, unless he is crossed by those people. But I don’t believe there was any harm intended. That’s all I have to say about that. Everything else should be taken up with him.”
As the questioning continued, with Perry initially saying “Man, y’all just want me to snitch on the air,” Perry said that he didn’t know what Nicholson’s quote was.
“What did he say? People may have taken it wrong,” he said. “I think people’s opinion on this has been blown way out of proportion and they need to calm down.”
“I don’t know,” he continued, after Helwani alluded to the comments being made about Lim’s facial features. “I don’t think any of my competition can see me, and when I hit Lim I opened a lot of people’s eyes.”
After Helwani pointed out that Nicholson’s statement came before he got the KO, after a brief pause, Perry offered up this one-liner.
“Well, we can see the future.”
MMA Fighting also reported that the UFC is “looking into” the incident regarding Nicholson’s taunt, which was heard in the special corner audio on the UFC.tv broadcast of the pay-per-view. During fight week, Nicholson called Lim “Dung Him Kong Jung Foo” on his Facebook page.
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In the case of Nicholson, using racist taunts or racist language is not an isolated incident. As Bloody Elbow’s Tim Bissell researched, both Perry and Nicholson also have a bit of a history of using the n-word on their respective Facebook pages, of which you can see a sample collection of them below, with many of them including Wayback Machine archived links.
Alex Nicholson - November 22nd, 2015
“No that’s the clown I knocked out in Pensacola I’m the king nigga”
Mike Perry - June 27th, 2015
“Idk bout you but I’m bouta celebrate in 12 days after I weigh in I’m gona celebrate so the last thing I’m carin about is these bitches lil gay posts , and I mean gay in 2 ways homo and shit about the flag. Sue me. Venting an shit you ain’t doin nothing and everything in your life is exactly the same my life on the other hand will change in a short 12 days !”
Mike Perry - April 23rd, 2015
“Now that there is the black zillions I was thinking about making an MMA gym called the great whites ! didn’t have a shark emoji”
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Mike Perry - April 24th, 2015: “Idk I thought great whites was cool cuz black zillions is pretty racist so if they can do it so can I”
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Mike Perry - April 24th, 2015: “Just sayin”
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1619982354902122&id=100006711189501
Alex Nicholson - April 15th, 2015
“Had not rode the city bus in a while.. Thought it was only in Apopka but apparently it doesn’t matter what city you’re in there will be a crackhead on the bus #worktime #niggawemadeit“
Mike Perry - March 28th, 2015
“I live the life i deserve. Blessed. Fuck a vaycay i feel better at work. I mean whatever its worth, i give whatever im worth for my niggas thats gona go to hell an back for me ima give heaven on earth or a hell of a check yeah whatever comes first blessings on blessings on blessings”
Mike Perry - March 16th, 2015
“Bury him ? Yeah i know 1 day they gota bury him better lock my casket tight baby so I don’t let the devil in. Its just me an my guitar yeah bitch im heavy medalin an you can get that fuckin led zepiline, niggas is bitches, bitches i think they full of estrogen ! Haha lil wayne bitch im me”
Alex Nicholson - February 20th, 2015
“Me and my niggas”
Alex Nicholson - June 25th, 2014
“All bullshit aside… that nigga almost died”
Mike Perry - June 25th, 2014
“Dont be given out information, you know a nigga still on probation”
Note: The video is of an African-American fighter getting KO’d via suplex.
Mike Perry - January 14th, 2014
“Cant keep a real nigga down… FUCK YOU !”
Mike Perry - December 6th, 2013
“Tonight I really just wish a nigga would”
Mike Perry - December 3rd, 2013
“You know im down wit the niggas down for me, got 2 words for ya love an loyalty… #mynigga #mynigga #youngjeezy“
Mike Perry - November 22nd, 2013
“All my hoes got cat eyes, celebrate when a rat dies, make a nigga fall back like he gettin baptized !”
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