Mike Perry built a combat-sports career through the UFC before reinventing himself as one of bare-knuckle boxing’s most recognizable attractions.
By 2026, Perry’s public profile is centered on BKFC, where his official record remains unbeaten after victories over several former UFC and professional boxing names.
Mike Perry Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Joseph Perry |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1991 |
| Age (2026) | 35 |
| Birthplace | Flint, Michigan, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional fighter |
| Known For | UFC, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship |
| BKFC Record | 6-0 through October 2025 |
Mike Perry Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Mike Perry has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
His financial profile is tied to UFC fight purses, BKFC contracts, boxing appearances, pay-per-view participation, sponsorships, merchandise, media activity, and other combat-sports opportunities.
Early Combat Career
Perry was born in Flint, Michigan, and spent much of his youth in Florida.
He developed a reputation as an aggressive striker before reaching the UFC, competing in regional mixed martial arts and building a record that attracted the promotion’s attention.
His style emphasized pressure, punching power, durability, and willingness to exchange at close range, qualities that later transferred especially well to bare-knuckle competition.
UFC Debut
Perry made his UFC debut in 2016 against Hyun Gyu Lim.
He won by first-round technical knockout, immediately establishing the high-risk striking style that became central to his public identity.
The original draft incorrectly described that debut result, so the career timeline has been corrected to match official fight records.
UFC Career
Perry became a regular UFC welterweight and fought a wide range of established opponents during his tenure.
His UFC run included bouts with Jake Ellenberger, Paul Felder, Vicente Luque, Donald Cerrone, Geoff Neal, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Daniel Rodriguez, and others.
He produced memorable knockouts and competitive decisions, but his results were inconsistent enough that he never reached a UFC title fight.
Even so, his willingness to engage in difficult matchups gave him a fan base that remained interested after he left the promotion.
Leaving the UFC
Perry’s UFC run ended in 2021 after fifteen appearances with the organization.
The transition came at a point when bare-knuckle boxing was growing rapidly in the United States and looking for fighters with recognizable names and crowd-friendly styles.
Perry’s pressure-heavy approach made him unusually well suited for that format compared with athletes whose careers depend more heavily on wrestling or long-range kicking.
Signing With BKFC
Perry joined Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and quickly became one of the promotion’s biggest attractions.
BKFC’s official profile lists Perry with a 6-0 bare-knuckle record through his most recent fight.
His run includes victories over Julian Lane, Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Thiago Alves, and Jeremy Stephens.
That list gives Perry one of the strongest name-recognition résumés in the promotion’s history.
Julian Lane
Perry’s first major BKFC appearance came against Julian Lane.
He won the bout and demonstrated that his MMA striking style could translate effectively to bare-knuckle rules.
The victory created momentum for larger matchups because Perry combined an established UFC audience with a willingness to fight aggressively in the new format.
Michael Page
Perry defeated Michael “Venom” Page in 2022 after a competitive contest that required an overtime round under the event’s rules.
Page entered with a strong reputation from Bellator and kickboxing-style striking, making the win an important credibility boost for Perry.
The matchup helped establish BKFC as a place where recognizable combat-sports athletes could meet outside conventional MMA rules.
Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Thiago Alves
Perry continued his run with victories over former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
He later defeated Thiago Alves, another longtime UFC veteran.
These wins made Perry’s bare-knuckle résumé increasingly difficult to dismiss as a novelty because he was consistently beating experienced professional fighters.
Jake Paul Boxing Match
Perry stepped outside BKFC in July 2024 to box Jake Paul.
He lost by technical knockout, giving him a high-profile defeat in conventional boxing while maintaining his undefeated BKFC record because the bout took place under different rules.
The event expanded Perry’s audience beyond MMA and bare-knuckle fans and demonstrated the commercial value of his name in crossover combat sports.
Jeremy Stephens Fight
Perry returned to BKFC and defeated Jeremy Stephens on October 4, 2025.
The victory moved his official bare-knuckle record to 6-0 and extended a run that had already included several former UFC stars.
By the end of that bout, Perry’s BKFC identity had become at least as important to his career as his earlier UFC tenure.
Why Bare-Knuckle Fits Perry
Bare-knuckle boxing rewards many of the qualities that made Perry popular in MMA: forward pressure, toughness, short-range punching, and willingness to absorb damage while continuing to attack.
The format also places less emphasis on wrestling, kicks, and ground fighting, allowing Perry to focus almost entirely on the part of combat sports most closely associated with his public image.
That stylistic fit explains why his post-UFC career became commercially significant instead of functioning as a brief retirement tour.
Career Position in 2026
By 2026, Perry is best understood as a crossover combat-sports attraction rather than simply a former UFC fighter.
His UFC résumé gave him recognition, BKFC gave him a new winning identity, and the Jake Paul bout demonstrated that his audience can transfer to conventional boxing events.
The combination keeps him relevant across several fight-business formats without requiring him to return to the UFC.
For another athlete whose public profile extends beyond competition, see our profile of motocross racer Haiden Deegan.
FAQs
What is Mike Perry best known for?
Perry is known for his UFC welterweight career and for becoming an undefeated star in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
What is Mike Perry’s BKFC record?
BKFC lists Perry at 6-0 through his October 2025 victory over Jeremy Stephens.
Did Mike Perry fight Jake Paul?
Yes. Perry boxed Jake Paul in July 2024 and lost by technical knockout.
Who has Mike Perry beaten in BKFC?
His BKFC wins include Julian Lane, Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Thiago Alves, and Jeremy Stephens.
