Mike "Platinum" Perry: UFC Brawler Turned Bare Knuckle Star
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Joseph Perry |
| Nickname | Platinum |
| Born | September 15, 1991 |
| Hometown | Flint, Michigan, USA |
| Weight Class | Middleweight |
| MMA Record | 14-8 |
| BKFC Record | 6-0 |
| Current Title | BKFC King of Violence Champion |
| Notable Achievement | Undefeated in bare knuckle competition |
Overview
There are fighters who are made for certain sports, and then there is Mike Perry. The man they call "Platinum" spent years in the UFC as one of the most entertaining and polarizing welterweights on the roster -- a fighter whose style was defined by violence, chaos, and an almost reckless willingness to trade leather. When he signed with BKFC in 2022, it did not feel like a career detour. It felt like a fighter finally finding the arena he was born for.
Perry has since gone 6-0 in bare knuckle competition, captured the "King of Violence" championship, headlined some of BKFC's biggest events, and established himself as arguably the promotion's most recognizable star. He is a box office draw, a highlight reel waiting to happen, and the embodiment of everything bare knuckle fighting sells: raw, unfiltered combat between two people with nothing between their fists and their opponent's face.
Career Before Bare Knuckle
Early Life and Amateur Career
Mike Perry grew up in Flint, Michigan, a city whose toughness is woven into its identity. Perry's upbringing was far from easy, and he channeled the aggression and survival instincts of his environment into combat sports from a young age. He compiled an amateur MMA record of 8-3 across 11 fights before turning professional in September 2014. Even in those early regional bouts, Perry was impossible to ignore. He carried knockout power in both hands, walked forward with menacing intent, and seemed to genuinely enjoy the violence of fighting in a way that separated him from his peers.
UFC Career (2016-2021)
Perry's professional MMA career took off quickly. He went 7-0 on the regional circuit, finishing six of those seven opponents, which earned him a call to the UFC. He made his debut on short notice at UFC 202 on August 20, 2016, stepping in against Lim Hyun-Gyu. Perry dropped Lim twice with right hands, then finished with a left hook and ground-and-pound for a first-round TKO. The UFC crowd had a new favorite.
His early UFC run was explosive. Perry went 4-1 through his first five fights, with every win coming by knockout. A devastating finish of Danny Roberts at UFC 204, where Perry landed a brutal knee from the clinch that led to a third-round KO, became one of the year's most replayed highlights. A split decision victory over Paul Felder at UFC 226 showed he could grind out wins too.
But Perry's career in the Octagon was defined as much by his losses as his wins. He finished with a 7-8 UFC record, dropping fights to Alan Jouban, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Vicente Luque, and others. A first-round submission loss to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in 2019 was a low point. Yet even in defeat, Perry was never boring. Every fight was a spectacle. Fans tuned in not knowing whether they would see a highlight-reel knockout or a war of attrition, but they knew they would see violence.
Perry's personality outside the cage was equally larger than life. His social media presence, press conference antics, and willingness to say whatever was on his mind made him a polarizing figure who drew attention wherever he went. By the time he parted ways with the UFC, Perry had carved out a niche as one of the sport's most recognizable characters.
Bare Knuckle Career
BKFC Debut: KnuckleMania 2
Perry made his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania 2 on February 19, 2022, facing Julian Lane in the co-main event. Lane, a BKFC veteran known for his own brawling style, was considered a solid test for Perry's transition. Perry answered every question in emphatic fashion, dropping Lane in the first round and controlling the action throughout to earn a unanimous decision (48-46 across all three scorecards). The performance earned him Fight of the Night honors and immediately established him as a main event-level talent in bare knuckle.
Michael "Venom" Page
On August 20, 2022, at BKFC 27, Perry faced former Bellator standout Michael "Venom" Page in a fascinating style clash. Page, a flashy striker known for his unorthodox movement and karate-based approach, was expected to give Perry problems with his range and timing. The fight went the distance, with the first five rounds scored as a split draw before Perry won the decisive sixth round to take the bout via majority decision. It was a gritty, competitive affair that showcased Perry's ability to adapt against a very different type of opponent.
Luke Rockhold
On April 29, 2023, at BKFC 41, Perry stepped up in competition significantly when he faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold. The fight was billed as one of the biggest in BKFC history, and Perry delivered. He battered Rockhold throughout the bout until the former champion retired on his stool, giving Perry a TKO victory. It was a statement win that elevated Perry's status within the promotion and generated mainstream sports media coverage.
King of Violence Championship vs. Eddie Alvarez
Perry's coronation as BKFC's signature attraction came on December 2, 2023, at BKFC 56, when he faced former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez for the inaugural "King of Violence" championship. Alvarez, one of the most credentialed fighters in MMA history, was competitive early, but Perry's power and relentless pressure proved to be too much. Alvarez's corner stopped the fight after the second round, handing Perry the TKO victory and the symbolic championship that would come to define his BKFC tenure.
Thiago Alves at KnuckleMania IV
Perry defended his King of Violence title on April 27, 2024, at BKFC KnuckleMania IV in Los Angeles against former BKFC Middleweight Champion Thiago Alves. The fight barely lasted a round. Perry caught Alves clean and finished him with a first-round knockout, one of the most devastating finishes in BKFC history.
Jake Paul Boxing Bout
In between his BKFC commitments, Perry accepted a professional boxing match against Jake Paul on July 20, 2024. Perry was dropped three times and lost by sixth-round TKO. While the result was disappointing, the fight generated massive mainstream exposure and further raised Perry's profile as a combat sports personality.
Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82
Perry's most recent bare knuckle outing came on October 4, 2025, at BKFC 82 in Newark, New Jersey, where he defended his King of Violence title against former UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens. It was vintage Perry. He dropped Stephens six times over five rounds before the referee stepped in to halt the contest via TKO. The performance was a brutal reminder that in bare knuckle, there is no one more dangerous than "Platinum" Mike Perry with his hands unwrapped.
Fighting Style
Mike Perry fights the way a wrecking ball demolishes a building: direct, destructive, and utterly without subtlety. His approach in bare knuckle is built on forward pressure, heavy hands, and an iron chin that allows him to absorb punishment while walking opponents into range.
Perry carries legitimate one-punch knockout power in both hands, with a particular fondness for overhand rights and left hooks that he throws with his entire body behind them. He is comfortable in the pocket, thrives in dirty boxing exchanges, and has a natural feel for the close-range combat that defines bare knuckle fighting. Where boxing rewards distance management and defensive responsibility, bare knuckle rewards the ability to hurt people in tight spaces. That is Perry's entire skill set.
What makes Perry especially dangerous is his durability. He has always been an exceptionally tough fighter, willing to eat two punches to land one, and in bare knuckle -- where the rounds are shorter and the pace is faster -- that toughness becomes an even greater asset. Opponents know that even when they land clean, Perry keeps coming forward. The psychological toll of hitting a man flush and watching him smile back at you cannot be overstated.
Perry has also shown growth in his time with BKFC. His defense, while still not his primary concern, has improved. He picks his spots better, sets up his power shots with feints and jabs, and has learned to fight at a pace that allows him to maintain his aggression over the course of a full bout. He is not just a brawler anymore. He is a calculated brawler, which may be the most dangerous thing a bare knuckle fighter can be.
Notable Fights
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2022 | Julian Lane | BKFC KnuckleMania 2 | W - UD |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Michael Page | BKFC 27 | W - MD |
| Apr 29, 2023 | Luke Rockhold | BKFC 41 | W - TKO |
| Dec 2, 2023 | Eddie Alvarez | BKFC 56 | W - TKO Rd 2 (KoV Title) |
| Apr 27, 2024 | Thiago Alves | BKFC KnuckleMania IV | W - KO Rd 1 |
| Oct 4, 2025 | Jeremy Stephens | BKFC 82 | W - TKO Rd 5 |
Legacy
Mike Perry's legacy is one of reinvention. In the UFC, he was a fan-favorite brawler with more losses than wins, a fighter whose entertainment value always exceeded his ranking. In BKFC, he is an undefeated champion and one of the most dominant forces the sport has ever seen. The difference is not that Perry became a fundamentally different fighter. The difference is that he found a sport where everything he does well matters more.
Perry's value to BKFC extends far beyond his fight record. He is the promotion's biggest draw, the fighter whose name on the marquee sells tickets and drives pay-per-view buys. His personality, his social media presence, and his willingness to engage with fans have made him the public face of bare knuckle fighting at a time when the sport is experiencing unprecedented growth. When casual fans think of BKFC, they think of Mike Perry.
The fighters he has defeated in BKFC read like a who's who of combat sports: a former UFC middleweight champion in Luke Rockhold, a former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion in Eddie Alvarez, a former Bellator star in Michael Page, and multiple BKFC title holders. His 6-0 record is spotless, his finishes are spectacular, and his drawing power is unquestioned.
At 34 years old, Perry appears to be in his prime in bare knuckle. He has found the sport he was made for, and the sport has found its biggest star. Whatever happens next, "Platinum" Mike Perry has already written one of the most compelling second-act stories in combat sports history.
FAQ
What is Mike Perry's BKFC record?
Mike Perry is 6-0 in BKFC, with victories over Julian Lane, Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Thiago Alves, and Jeremy Stephens.
What was Mike Perry's UFC record?
Perry went 7-8 in the UFC competing at welterweight from 2016 to 2021, with notable knockout victories over Lim Hyun-Gyu, Danny Roberts, and Alex Reyes.
What is the "King of Violence" title?
The King of Violence championship is a special title created by BKFC that Perry won by defeating Eddie Alvarez in December 2023 and has since defended multiple times.
Did Mike Perry fight Jake Paul?
Yes. Perry fought Jake Paul in a professional boxing match on July 20, 2024, and lost by sixth-round TKO after being dropped three times. The fight was held under boxing rules with gloves, separate from his bare knuckle career.
How old is Mike Perry?
Mike Perry was born on September 15, 1991, making him 34 years old.
Is Mike Perry the biggest star in BKFC?
Perry is widely regarded as BKFC's most recognizable and marketable fighter, consistently headlining the promotion's biggest events and driving significant viewership.