Conor McGregor has got his eye on Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens this weekend.
The BKFC’s ‘King of Violence’ title is on the line in the main event of BKFC 82.
Mike Perry defends the strap for the first time against fellow UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens, looking to go 6-0 in the bare knuckle boxing promotion.
Both fighters have a history with UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
Last year, the BKFC part-owner claimed he ‘fired’ Perry from BKFC following his boxing loss to Jake Paul and threatened to do so again. In 2016, McGregor roasted Stephens by saying he didn’t know who he was at the UFC 205 press conference.
Months after expressing interest in fighting the winner of the King of Violence title fight, McGregor has given his thoughts on Perry vs. Stephens.
Conor McGregor ‘absolutely undecided’ on Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens
McGregor was among those in attendance for the BKFC 82 press conference in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday.
McGregor says the size difference between Perry and Stephens cannot be overlooked as Stephens used to fight in the UFC featherweight division (145 lbs) while ‘Platinum’ fought at welterweight (170 lbs).
“We’ve got our King of Violence world title on the line by the current champion, Michael Perry, the King of Violence, making his return,” McGregor said at the BKFC 82 presser.
“A man that paved the way in the sport and rose up and done incredible things, then he made an error and went a different way. A big mistake in my opinion,” McGregor said of Perry’s boxing loss to Jake Paul.
“But now he’s back. People are underwriting him. He’s got a big point to prove. And you know what’s at stake, Michael. If you don’t perform, you’re gone,” McGregor threatened to fire Perry.
“You can go back to those exhibition bouts and those misfits with the big gloves. We’ll part ways, but I’m confident you’ll show up and do your thing, and I’m excited to see it.
“You’re against a man, Jeremy Stephens. Who the f— is that guy?” McGregor said of Stephens.
“The one and only, the hardest hitting one hundred and forty five pounder. Listen to that. He is a hard hitting man for sure, but he’s also a one hundred and forty five pounder…. Michael Perry is a one hundred and seventy pounder. So that can never be overlooked.
“That is a fearless man, a ferocious man, a man with his back against the wall.
“And for me in this bout, I’m undecided,” McGregor revealed.
“I am absolutely undecided on it. This could go either way, but one hell of one thing’s for certain. This is gonna be one hell of a fight. And you know what’s at stake again? They’re both angling for a fight against the big boss, me.
“So, for me, who would I wish? Who would I prefer? Either or. I hope for a good fight for our fans and I’m confident of that because no fight in bare knuckle history has ever been a boring fight.
“I’ll fight both of them at the same f—— time,” McGregor said of Perry and Stephens.
“I’m the big boss, baby…”
Conor McGregor faced off Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens
All hell broke loose the last time Perry and Stephens faced off.
The BKFC headliners got into a physical altercation while they were in the ring at BKFC 80, but their latest face-to-face was cordial for the most part with McGregor in between them.
“Who’s the King of Violence?” McGregor said as Perry and Stephens locked eyes.
Perry and Stephens collide in the BKFC 82 main event on Saturday, live on DAZN pay-per-view.