Mike Perry insists he is still a BKFC fighter despite Conor McGregor suggesting otherwise.
The former dual-weight UFC champion became part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) last year.
Perry is the company’s biggest star and boasts an undefeated 5-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing.
However, he failed to impress his boss when he donned the gloves against Jake Paul in July.
Perry stepped in to replace Mike Tyson on three-and-a-half-weeks’ notice after the former undisputed heavyweight champion was deemed medically unfit to compete against Paul due to an ulcer flare-up.
‘Platinum’ was dropped three times en route to a sixth-round stoppage defeat – much to the dismay of McGregor.
Taking to X in the immediate aftermath, McGregor wrote: “Hey Mike you’re released and you can go and compete in your smelly dirty boxing championship thing, the smell of it, good luck. You’re fired. @BareKnuckleFC.”
Yet, Perry claims that McGregor’s statement was full of hot air.
“Of course, I’m still with BKFC. I have stakes in the company,” he told talkSPORT.com.
“I have an extensive contract that I’m looking to fulfil, and it is just a matter of time.
“Are we still talking about that guy [McGregor]? Is that guy still relevant? Does he even fight anymore?
“I don’t think he does. I think it’s been quite a while. He’s made some money, and now he’s just all talk.
“I still fight for money, and I’ve been getting rich out here as well.
“He ain’t my boss. He ain’t telling me nothing. I’m my own boss.
“The thing is that the fight hasn’t been made with bare-knuckle because we’re looking for the right opponent, and some deals have to be made with companies who they are tied down to.
“I’ll be back in the ring soon. I’m looking forward to that. I am prepping for that now, and hopefully, some news will come soon.
“It will probably be bare-knuckle.”
Perry has beaten fellow UFC alumni Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez and Thiago Santos during his tenure with BKFC.
He currently holds the symbolic ‘King of Violence’ title and is the No.2 ranked middleweight behind reigning champion David Mundell.
