Mike Perry is known for getting under his opponent’s skin and that’s exactly what he did during the ceremonial face-off with Luke Rockhold, ahead of their Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) 41 bout. Perry picked his nose during the event and then rubbed his finger on Rockhold’s expensive coat. The two MMA veterans are set to square off in a 185-pound bout on April 29 which takes place at the 1STBANK Center in Denver.
Mike Perry on his antics during the face-off
Talking about the odd antics during his interview with Helen Yee, Perry did not shy away from admitting to it. When questioned if he wiped his nose dirt on Rockhold’s coat, Mike Perry said, “Yeah. His jacket was a Mont Clair, and he’s got a little Platinum boogey on it. I made sure I got that one on there. You know, I try to promote.” BKFC 41 is also expected to feature the debut of former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, taking on former featherweight title contender Chad Mendes.
Luke Rockhold’s response and commitment to boxing
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold did not take Perry’s antics lightly. In a recent interview with Morning Kombat, Rockhold trashed Perry for his disappointing run in the UFC and commented on his own commitment to boxing, stating, “This is a different game. You’re stepping up into the big leagues when you’re fighting me. There’s a reason why you never f***ing made it to the top of the game in the UFC. But now, all I’ve been doing is working on my boxing.”
Rockhold seemed to have retired from combat sports after his loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 278 last year, but he later revealed he was far from done. On the other hand, Mike Perry is trying to recover from a tough run in the UFC, where he went 1-4 in his last five bouts. Perry has found success in the BKFC, and his decision wins over Julian Lane and Michael Page last year have garnered him considerable interest ahead of his showdown with Rockhold.
