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Mike Perry has announced that he intends to move on from Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and focus on mixed martial arts, bringing an apparent end to the most successful chapter of his bare-knuckle career.
The former UFC welterweight made the announcement during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on October 20, explaining that he is ready for a new challenge after establishing himself as one of BKFC’s biggest stars. His comments were reported by multiple MMA outlets on October 20 and 21.
Mike Perry, widely known as “Platinum,” enjoyed considerable success after leaving the UFC in 2021. However, after spending several years competing in bare-knuckle boxing, the 35-year-old now intends to concentrate on fighting with gloves again.
“That bare-knuckle stuff is like a cheat code, man. Those two-minute rounds, I was good at it. It was fun. I made some noise doing it, and I’m ready for another challenge,” Perry said, explaining his decision.
He added that MMA would be his priority for the foreseeable future, signalling that he intends to dedicate the next stage of his career to the sport.
Perry leaves BKFC after an unbeaten run
Mike Perryestablished himself as a major attraction in BKFC after departing the UFC. His aggressive fighting style and willingness to engage in close-range exchanges made him particularly effective under bare-knuckle boxing rules.
He compiled a perfect 6-0 record in BKFC, securing victories over several high-profile former MMA fighters, including Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens.
His victory over Stephens in October 2025 was his most recent appearance for the promotion. Perry also earned BKFC’s “King of Violence” distinction, further cementing his status as one of the organisation’s most recognisable competitors.
His departure represents a significant development for BKFC, where he became one of the promotion’s leading crossover stars. Perry brought an established fanbase from his UFC career and helped attract attention to the organisation’s bare-knuckle format.
However, his latest comments suggest that the challenges of MMA have become more appealing than continuing his run without gloves.
MMA return produces mixed results
Perry has already returned to mixed martial arts in 2026, giving him an opportunity to assess his prospects under the sport’s broader ruleset.
In May, he defeated Nate Diaz by second-round doctor-stoppage TKO on the Most Valuable Promotions MMA card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The victory marked a successful return to MMA after approximately five years away from the sport.
His next appearance came against Brandon Jenkins at Duel: Arena in August. Perry suffered a first-round stoppage defeat after sustaining a shoulder injury during the contest.
The contrasting results highlighted the challenge of returning to MMA after an extended period focused on bare-knuckle boxing. Unlike BKFC, mixed martial arts requires competitors to prepare for wrestling, grappling, kicks and submissions alongside striking.
Perry nevertheless appears determined to continue pursuing the challenge. His recent comments indicate that he sees MMA as his primary competitive focus for at least the next two years.
What comes next for Mike Perry?
Mike Perry has not announced his next opponent, a fight date or a new promotional contract. Although a return to the UFC or further appearances under the Most Valuable Promotions banner may attract speculation, neither possibility has been officially confirmed.
His decision also leaves questions about potential bare-knuckle matchups that had previously been discussed. Perry had been linked to a possible BKFC showdown with Darren Till, but his stated intention to focus on MMA puts that prospect in doubt for the immediate future.
For now, Perry appears ready to close the book on his successful BKFC run and test himself again in mixed martial arts.
His next move will determine whether he can rebuild momentum following his recent defeat and establish a new chapter in a career that has already taken him through the UFC, bare-knuckle boxing and high-profile crossover events.
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