For Mike Perry, the next opportunity always feels like the biggest opportunity yet. In terms of Perry’s upcoming MVP showdown with Nate Diaz on the Netflix MMA card, that mark will be hard to top.
The fight was another high-profile stop in Perry’s unpredictable combat sports journey – which has taken him from the UFC to becoming the face of BKFC. Now, he’ll face the most lucrative opportunity of his career on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
advertise
Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Tuesday, the bare-knuckle boxing star revealed that his upcoming payday will surpass all of his previous paydays, regardless of sport.
“The next one is always the best, man,” Perry told The Uncrowned. “I’ve been saying it — it’s been locked in. I swear, I’ve been saying it for 20 years. We’re always grinding, getting better, always finding the best version of myself and really showing you guys what I can do.”
The fight itself was a one-time deal under the MVP banner, another sign of how unstable the current fight landscape has become for some of the biggest names in combat sports.
advertise
For Perry, uncertainty in the sport is not unusual — it’s just the nature of the sport.
“It’s really cool to be a part of this,” Perry said. “Every fight in my career – every fight in the careers of all these fighters, could be the last one. Or could be the only one. That’s what this sport is really about. Your body goes through dramatic adaptations and changes, and you become a new person many times over the course of your career. You have to step back and look from the outside in and see what your best path is, how to get the most bang for your buck, and then perform. Simple, you know what?”
The fight itself brings with it a wealth of intrigue beyond the commercial level. This will be the first MMA fight for both men in years – five for Perry and four for Diaz. The fan-favorite Diaz has developed a reputation over the years for his unpredictable fighting behavior and psychological warfare, and Perry admitted he hopes the Stockton icon can bring his usual chaotic style in and out of the cage.
Still, that opportunity alone was enough to keep Perry on target when talks first surfaced a few months ago. According to Perry, discussions about fighting Diaz began as early as early October. At the time, he signed a contract and began preparing for whoever might end up across from him, and the Diaz fight finally became a reality.
advertise
Beyond this game, Perry’s future remains open. Despite his recent success with BKFC – where he has become one of the promotion’s biggest draws – he has not ruled out any possibility of moving forward.
“I guess there’s a choice here, right?” Perry said. “To me, a win comes down to what MVP MMA looks like. I’ve seen the shame that the media talks about, the freedom that some people have, and I happen to have that, and so does Nate, [Francis] Ngannou has it. This is a blessing.
“I’m taking it one day at a time. I thank Nate for helping me get this matchup and we’re going to clash. After all the hard work I’ve put into my career, it’s really cool. I really want to be the best version of myself and grow as much as I can and do the best I can for my family.”