Mike Perry reflected on his successful 2023 calendar year and refused to retire from fighting.
In 2023, ‘Platinum’ fought twice in bare-knuckle boxing, defeating Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez under the BKFC banner. Both wins led to significant paydays and furthered his impressive resume since parting ways with the UFC in 2021.
Perry recently did an interview with MMA legend Demetrious Johnson, where the fan-favorite fighters talked about various topics. During their conversation, Johnson asked the BKFC superstar what he plans to pursue financially after fighting. ‘Platinum’ responded by saying:
“That’s always a challenge with fighting because it’s like whatever amount of work I have to put into anything just seems so strenuous compared to a physical exercise, which is good for my mental health, which is one of the main reasons I do exercise. If I’m having bad days, I’m like f*ck it, I need to go to the gym, and as soon as I work out, I’m on my way home and feeling better about myself.”
Perry continued by boasting about the paydays he received for his fights against Rockhold and Alvarez:
“And that check, that fight check, there is nothing the world like it. If you think about it, I know there was time leading up to fight, months of training, whatever, but four minutes twice last year, four minutes I made f*cking so much money in four minutes, dude. There’s nothing like it that compares to it at all.”
Mike Perry claims he will “never retire” from fighting
Mike Perry is undoubtedly in the prime of his fighting career. With that said, a time will come when the 32-year-old won’t be able to fight at the same level, leading to a difficult decision regarding retirement that every fighter must face.
During the previously mentioned interview with Demetrious Johnson, ‘Mighty Mouse’ asked Perry if he will miss fighting when he retires. ‘Platinum’ hilariously responded by saying:
“Ain’t gonna hang them up brother. I’m never retiring, never retiring. This is who I am, point blank period. I’m gonna be an old motherf*cker at the bar knocking people out. Get away from my seat boy. Get out of here, get out of here. I ain’t never retiring. I’m never hanging them up. I’m bare-knuckle baby, we ain’t gotta hang them up. This sh*t is automatic.”
For now, Mike Perry doesn’t have to worry about retirement, as he’s solidified himself as the biggest superstar in bare-knuckle boxing. It’s unclear who Perry will fight next, but he plans to return in the first half of 2024.
Watch Mike Perry’s entire interview with Demetrious Johnson below:
