Mike Perry leaves BKFC and returns to MMA, saying it is gloves for at least two years

A possible bare-knuckle headliner against his old rival Darren Till now looks off. Perry beat Nate Diaz on his MMA return this year and could sign again with MVP MMA or go back to the UFC.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Tue 20 Oct, 22:24 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Mike Perry sits on a locker-room bench under a stencilled wall reading Perry leaves BKFC, back to MMA — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

A bare-knuckle fight between Mike Perry and his long-time rival Darren Till now looks off, after Perry announced his departure from Bare Knuckle FC.

Perry had been linked with the Liverpool fighter following Till's recent win over Yoel Romero. BKFC has also just signed Derek Brunson, who beat Till by submission in the UFC, as we reported this week.

Perry explained his decision on The Ariel Helwani Show. He said: "That bare-knuckle stuff, it's like a cheat code. I was good at it; it was fun, I made some noise doing it. And I'm ready for another challenge."

He added: "I think MMA is in my foreseeable future, and I'm going to give it my best shot. I kind of did my thing over [at BKFC], and now it looks like we're going a different way. I think it's gloves for me…for at least two years."

Perry became the face of BKFC, beating Michael 'Venom' Page, former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez with bare knuckles. He has not fought for the promotion since he knocked out Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 last year, and his contract talks with BKFC dragged on.

He returned to MMA earlier this year with a win over Nate Diaz on the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano undercard. He could sign again with MVP MMA, which launches in full next year, or return to the UFC, where he fought from 2016 until a defeat to Daniel Rodriguez in April 2021.

In this story

Darren Till Nate Diaz Yoel Romero Daniel Rodriguez