Mike Perry says the Dillon Danis fight is not paying him what the Nate Diaz fight did, but he still sees enough value to take it.
Perry spoke with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show about his Aug. 29 MMA fight with Danis at Duel Arena 1 in Orlando. The matchup is set for 170 pounds, and Perry said the fight being in his home city helped push him toward accepting it.
This just came together like a couple of days ago, like two days before the announcement came. We talked about it. They offered me some money to fight Dillon Danis, and it was either going to be, I first heard Tennessee, and then I heard someone say that it’s going to be in Orlando. And I was like, oh, we got to do that. Like that would be sick.
He said First Round Management knew the promoter working with Duel Arena, and the matchup made sense because Danis still brings attention.
They just saw a fight that people have been wanting. Dillon Danis is a big name, believe it or not. He is a big name. He’s a famous guy. He hasn’t gotten all the fair shots and chances at big fights. And if you are a big fighter, a real fighter like myself, you can’t not take this opportunity. So I’m taking the opportunity here in my hometown of Orlando and looking to put on a great show for the people of my home city and show them the king of violence up close and personal.
Perry Says The Fight Is About Name Value
The Danis booking gives Perry another MMA appearance after his stoppage win over Diaz at MVP MMA 1. The original Perry vs. Danis Duel Arena announcement already set the date and location, and Perry used the Helwani interview to explain why he did not wait for a bigger bare-knuckle or UFC offer.
Duel Arena and the promoter that we’ve known for years reached out with a great opportunity to fight Dillon Danis. Maybe it is a little bit less money, but it’s a great opponent. We’ve been talking about this for a long time. Dillon, he may not have all the fights I have, but I would like to take that 0 from him in his MMA record and show the world and show Dillon that there’s levels to this. I’m looking to be extremely violent and exciting.
Perry also made clear that the bout is not just a quick detour away from bare-knuckle fighting.
It’s not over with bare knuckle either. Sometimes I got to be careful how I say things, but I’m going to focus on Duel Arena 1, set this company up for their new promotion. We’re doing it here at home, which is great to finally bring my people in my city. They’ve been asking for me to fight in Orlando again for years. It’s a shot at redemption.
Helwani asked Perry to confirm the rules, and Perry said the ring does not change his approach.
It’s in a ring, which is cool for me. I’m cool with that, to throw some strikes in the ring, and it doesn’t matter what shape or what it is with me. You put me in a combat match and I’m coming for blood.
Against Danis, Perry expects to keep the fight standing.
I’m working my game plan not too far off from the Nate Diaz game plan that I worked for. And I believe I’m going to stuff his takedowns. I believe I’m going to stop him from being able to get me to the ground. I am prepared for anywhere that the fight goes, but the game plan is to stay on my feet and strike him.
Perry Explains UFC Talks And The Pay Cut
The clearest money answer came near the end of the interview, after Helwani asked whether UFC contacted Perry following the Diaz win.
So I’ve heard that they’ve had conversations with my team and my people. If they want me, what are we talking about? But also, your boy has gotten my name up and I’m a prize fighter. Fighting for the UFC is not the only prize. Fighting for money is the prize. Life-changing money and opportunity is the prize.
“If given the opportunity, I’m sure I would take a bit of a pay cut to go back to the UFC, but I don’t know how big that pay cut is.”
Mike Perry would go back to the UFC, but only if the money is right 🤑 #HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/kQlaZPqGRk
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) July 28, 2026
I’m sure I would take a bit of a pay cut to go back to the UFC, but I don’t know how big that pay cut is. I’m taking one now to fight Dillon Danis. They’re paying me what they can, but I had to take this opportunity to fight Dillon Danis. It’s not the money I made fighting Nate. So if I beat up Dillon Danis, when I beat him up, then I’m going to get another opportunity and it better be for big, big, big money. Didn’t Nate get like 10 to fight me? He needed that shit though. He bled that shit out.
Perry also said a Diaz rematch had been discussed, but he is focused on the Danis date first.
It’s possible, yes. I’ve heard that we could be working towards that, a rematch if Nate wants it, in NorCal, more closer to home for him. I don’t know. I mean, I’m pretty sure I know how that might not work out for him, but I’m focused on August 29th. I’m going to face Dillon here in my home city and put on a great show for the fans at home and show my city what the king of violence is all about. And then we keep rocking from there.
The fight also gives Perry a reason to prepare for more than Danis alone. He said he expects Danis to show up, but mentioned Jason Jackson while talking about possible replacement thinking and the 170-pound cut.
I think Dillon comes, don’t get me wrong. I think he comes. I think he wants to put on a fight. I think he’s trying to get paid and feed his family as well. And he’s going to get into a tough fight. He wants to prove things to people who doubt his combat skills. He got in those two wrestling matches against really high-caliber people. So to make it a fight with me and not a grappling match, I hope he shows up.
I got to be ready for if Dillon doesn’t come. The fans of Orlando need me. I’m ready to fight August 29th. I’ll be there. I’ll be on weight. That weight is a little different. I cut to 170 again. It’s going to be tough. I’m already feeling that, but I’ll be ready to fight.
Perry said he trained with Danis once in New Jersey and has already been back in grappling work since vacation.
I went to gi jiu-jitsu last night. I did great in that. I did two 10-minute rounds and then a couple five-minute rounds. My coach, we’re looking to get him a fight, a retirement fight, maybe a catchweight. He said like 180. See if he can get on the card, and he gave me a hard round last night. He’s the best of us, best grappler. He’s the reason I’m good. I’ve been working with this guy forever.
Perry also pushed back on the idea that the matchup is personal.
I don’t think he wants to harm me personally. I think it takes two to tango and we’re both fighters and prize fighters who fight for our families. We’re grown ass men and I have more respect in the game than he does. But he’s out there competing. So let’s get in the ring and throw some freaking bows, dog.
That leaves Perry with a clear short-term target. Danis gives him a known opponent, Orlando gives him the location, and the money answer shows why Perry is treating this as a step toward a larger payday instead of a final destination. His win over Diaz already led to post-fight damage talk around Diaz, while Danis remains tied to his own legal and fight-business headlines. If Perry beats Danis in Orlando, he expects the next call to come with a bigger number.
