Following Michael Perry’s return to the ring for BKFC 82 this weekend, McGregor made it clear that Perry’s future in the promotion is on the line.
Michael Perry and BKFC co-owner and UFC legend Conor McGregor have a rocky history. The two have often been at odds, with Perry constantly accusing McGregor of ducking a fight with him. Despite the tension, Perry has stayed with BKFC and is set for a big return after a year-long hiatus, which he spent boxing Jake Paul on short notice. That move drew an angry response from McGregor, who threatened to release Perry from his BKFC contract, though it never happened.
Now, Perry is set to step back into the cage, but McGregor has conditions he must meet before he is fully forgiven and accepted.
“We’ve got our ‘King of Violence’ world title on the line by the current champ, Mike Perry, the King of Violence, making his return,” McGregor said at a press conference in New Jersey. “A man that paved the way in this sport and rose up and done incredible things. Then he made an error and went a different way, biggest mistake in my opinion, but now he’s back. People are underrating him.
“He’s got a big point to prove. And you know what’s at stake, Michael? If you don’t perform, you’re gone. You can go back to those exhibition bouts and those Misfits where they put on the big gloves, we’ll part ways, but I’m confident you’ll show up and do your thing, and I’m excited to see it.
“And who are you against? You’re against a man, Jeremy Stephens, ‘Who The F*ck Is That Guy’, the one and only. The hardest-hitting 145-pounder. Listen to that. He’s a hard-hitting man, for sure, but he’s also a 145-pounder. Michael Perry is a 170-pounder, so that can never be overlooked.
“That’s a fierce man, a ferocious man, a man with his back against the wall. And for me in this bout, I’m undecided. I’m absolutely undecided. This could go either way, but one thing is for certain: this is gonna be one hell of a fight. And you know what’s at stake again? They’re both angling for a fight against the big boss, me. For me, who would I wish? Who would I prefer? Either or. I hope for a fight for our fans and I’m confident of that because no fight in bare-knuckle history has been a boring fight.”
“You gotta fight for that world title, Mike,” McGregor said. “You’ve never been a world champion. You’re no world champion. So without a world title in this promotion, I only speak as I spoke, when I secured two UFC world titles. We made this fight for you.”
Following his planned UFC comeback fight at The White House next year, McGregor could potentially face the winner of Perry vs. Stephens. While nothing has been officially announced regarding his Octagon return, McGregor assured fans he intends to go through a six-month camp and make his comeback in 2026.
