Before making the decision to fight Jake Paul, Mike Perry was in negotiations to take on Dillon Danis in MMA.
The contest would’ve marked ‘Platinum’s’ first bout in the cage since his last outing in the UFC back in 2021.
Mike Perry nearly agreed a deal to fight Dillon Danis in MMA
On July 20, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, USA, Mike Perry will finally settle his grudge with Jake Paul in an eagerly-anticipated collision.
After the two men came away from a hotly-contested spar several years ago, with completely opposing stories, the world has longed to find out who the better boxer is. And now, they have an opportunity to prove their case beyond doubt.
Since walking away from the UFC, the MMA veteran has entered into the world of BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), where he’s honed his striking skills through epic victories against a plethora of combat sports icons.
Both Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez have fallen foul to the 32-year-old’s ferocious workrate, giving the MMA community hope that Paul may succumb to the same fate.
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However, Perry nearly opted for a very different fight, with the popular brawler entertaining a potential bout in the cage with Dillon Danis.
A battle between the striker and the grappler would’ve undoubtedly captured the attention of the casual fans.
Renowned for their maverick personalities and willingness to engage in brutal verbal exchanges, the press conferences alone would’ve been worth watching.
Perry told MMA Fighting: “It’s interesting. I was still looking at that Dillon Danis fight. That wasn’t going to be a boxing match because we all saw how he performed in boxing. I don’t want any excuses.”
He later revealed the exact tactics he’d implement if he ever got the opportunity to put his hands on the jiu-jitsu practitioner.
The 32-year-old explained: “I was going to knee him in the face and elbow him. If he gives up his back, I would have tried to go for the choke. Why not? I ain’t got a submission before, I like to punch people. I am very highly skilled in MMA. It might just be something that I take to the grave, those skills.”
Regardless, at least for the time being, that fight is on the back burner, as Perry is 100% focused on the man in front of him.
Mike Perry warns Jake Paul ahead of blockbuster collision
While considerably smaller than his rival, Perry is undeniably the toughest test of Paul’s career since Tommy Fury.
Significantly younger than the other MMA fighters the YouTuber has shared the ring with, and blessed with a remarkable engine, the bare-knuckle icon believes he has the minerals to force his nemesis into the darkest possible places.
While perhaps not as clinical as Anderson Silva, the natural-born fighter possesses incredible fighting spirit, willing to take anything coming in his direction and keep marching forward.
During his time in BKFC, he’s been subjected to a plethora of heavy shots, yet none of the thunderbolts that have landed clean on the chin have put him to sleep.
Thus, while Paul certainly carries formidable power in his right hand, Perry is a long shot from intimidated, recently sending a stark warning in his adversary’s direction.
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