Mike Perry hints at ‘another direction’ away from Darren Till and BKFC after Nate Diaz Netflix clash

Mike Perry has cast doubt over his future in bare-knuckle boxing ahead of his blockbuster clash with Nate Diaz on Netflix.

‘Platinum’ faces Diaz on the undercard of Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano show on May 16, in what many fans are billing as the people’s main event.

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Perry has become the poster boy for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), which is co-owned by Conor McGregor, over the past four years.

The 34-year-old has won all eight of his BKFC bouts, including wins over Michael Page, Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez, since his debut for the promotion in 2022, a year after leaving the UFC.

Despite rival Darren Till signing with BKFC last month to specifically hunt down a fight against Perry, the latter has hinted at other plans, speaking to talkSPORT.com.

“I guess I’m interested,” Perry responded when asked about fighting Till under the BKFC banner after he faces Diaz.

“But [there] may be another way. There may be another direction that I may be aiming after this fight.”

Till fights Aaron Chalmers on May 30 in Birmingham for his BKFC debut.

‘The Gorilla’ has been calling Perry’s name for years now, telling talkSPORT.com in April that a fight against the American is ‘the ultimate one’ on his BKFC hit list.

However, at this stage, it seems Perry is more interested in a permanent switch back to MMA.

‘Platinum’ grade blood

“I’ve been over in bare knuckle for a few years doing f***ing work,” he added.

“Guys just now coming over, guys like [Till] and Conor [McGregor].

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“Darren has had a boxing match or maybe two, but these guys aren’t fighting as much as I am. 

“Conor hasn’t fought in years. People are waiting on that one.

“Conor’s been talking s***. So that’s why I keep saying his name, because he’s been talking s*** since I’ve been fighting and winning in bare knuckle. 

“Darren was talking s*** since I’ve been fighting and winning in bare knuckle. And who’s he fighting?

“Aaron who? I don’t know who that is. So why don’t you guys go f***ing do something?

“I’m busy. I’m going to be doing something. I’m going to be getting the bag and I’m going to be setting up to get the next f***ing bag that I’m going to get.

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“And if your name falls on that line, then my knuckles will draw blood from your face.”

Perry teases statement ‘victory speech’

Perry said he made ‘small adjustments’ when making his transition from MMA to bare-knuckle, but has awakened ‘some dormant techniques and abilities’ ahead of his move back to the cage.

Asked if he wants to hang around in MMA after the Diaz fight, Perry said: “Yeah, I think so.

“I’m focused on May 16, a big opponent in front of me, Nate Diaz.

“I’ve trained really hard and I’m looking to give the world my best that night, live on Netflix for many millions to see.

“And then, all the opportunities that come with a successful night there, I think I’ll get an opportunity and I’ll be ready for it.

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“I kind of have some ideas of where I’ll be going, per se, a victory speech that night.”

Rousey vs Carano takes place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on May 16.

Also on the card, Francis Ngannou is making his grand return to MMA, and rising prospect Salahdine Parnasse is aiming to take his European dominance to the American stage.