Exclusive: Mike Perry on Dirty Boxing Success and Partnering With Jon Jones

MMA legend Mike Perry has spent years in the combat sports space competing. He began his career in the mixed martial arts space back in 2014. After a string of wins through various promotions, he would make his eventual UFC debut in 2016.

Perry would be known as one of the most violent strikers, and he picked up wins against big names like Jake Ellenberger, Paul Felder, Alex Oliveira, and more.

Following his UFC career, Perry would eventually move to the BKFC, where he holds an undefeated 5-0 record. With big wins against Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves, he has been named the “King of Violence.”

Now, Perry has taken his talents to being a fight promotion co-owner. He started Dirty Boxing, which held its first event in March. The MMA/boxing style combines striking, spinning backfists, but no kicking.

Combatants take one another on in a boxing ring designed for this style, and they use four-ounce gloves.

Perry sat down with Newsweek Sports to discuss the next event, Dirty Boxing 2, co-owning the promotion with UFC champion Jon Jones, and more.

What is dirty boxing?

“Dirty boxing is fighting. It’s a brutal, fast-paced, forceful style of, you know, knocking out your opponents, going for the win, or running into trouble. You know, small gloves, elbows, spinning back fist, Superman punches, a mixed martial arts style of striking, and it’s dirty boxing … We took out the kicks because I think the kicks slow down the action. When you watch a boxing fight, is very intense when they’re throwing combinations and they’re staying in the pocket. We invite that here at dirty boxing. We want these guys to go for an entertaining show and put it all on the line, throw heat, and have a great time.”

How did Dirty Boxing start?

“It came together by me being an exciting, entertaining fighter. I got to meet some great people and entertaining people outside of the ring, and coming together with those people, you know, I have a good time with them, and, you know, thankfully, I can have a good time around them, and same for them with me. So, you know, we get to talking about different styles of fighting, people like a Mike Perry fight, I bring it, and that’s what we want to see in Dirty Boxing.”

How did Jon Jones get involved in Dirty Boxing?

“So we put on a show that the fighters appreciate, the fighters who speak with us and work with us appreciate, and Jon is involved because he wants to make a difference in the fight game, in combat sports as well. Entertaining fights and putting it on the line, but seeing who’s best, and we’re going to put on some really great fights, especially this Saturday. I mean, just our second card, our first card was incredible, and our private show, so you know, it’s taken off since the private show, and we’re really excited about everything that’s happening with Dirty Boxing.”

You got Andre Arlovski, Yoel Romero in Dirty Boxing 1, Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alex Caceres in Dirty Boxing 2. Who else is coming to fight in the promotion?

“There are some legends, and you got to be careful when you mention who’s coming, because if they’re coming to just watch, then they might not come, because I’ve already mentioned they could decide up until the last day and be like, You know what? I changed my mind so but the fighters that we have signed contracts with, you know, you said legend Francisco Trinaldo might not be a legend, but he is in in a way or two. You know, he’s competed a lot in UFC.”

You’re doing commentary for Dirty Boxing. Are you planning on competing in dirty boxing yourself?

“Brother, let’s go, man. I’m ready to go outside and run right now, and I hope a pro fighter comes out of their house sees me running and goes, ‘let’s go’ … I’m already excited and and, you know, hope that I can get into a fight soon. I think things are coming together, and they’re gonna get me in the ring.”

Do you think that if you had a longer camp, the result would have been different with Jake Paul?

“I mean, absolutely, the way things wind down, but I get to that sometimes in life, you get a short camp and you were, your body was already in this mode of preparation. Um, but not at that point in my life. I had just beaten Thiago Alves. I had taken some time and and enjoyed my life after that, that big win to go five and, oh, and bare knuckle and and the sport difference, putting on the size I never fought at 200 pounds.”

What’s the next evolution of Dirty Boxing? Where do you expect the promotion and you to go from here?

“You know, I always just want a chance, man, and we’re getting that chance with Dirty Boxing this weekend. People are going to see it like the team that we have involved. They’re probably sweating, hoping everything that they worked so hard on is coming together as best it can. And I know they’re good at what they do, they’re great at what they do.”

The first Dirty Boxing event was streamed for free on YouTube, as will Dirty Boxing 2. Fans can check out the action on June 14, starting around 4 pm PST/7 pm EST at the official Dirty Boxing YouTube channel.

Fans can also still purchase tickets to the event in Orlando, Florida, here.

For more MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.