Mike Perry: Talking Trash, Dreaming Big, and Throwing Hands
Mike Perry: Talking Trash, Dreaming Big, and Throwing Hands
Hard-hitting prospect Mike Perry has dreams of becoming the first three division champion in UFC history.
Undefeated UFC welterweight smasher Mike Perry has been smashing his opposition inside the cage and on social media throughout his
short but destructive MMA career.
Perry is less than a month away from his biggest test to date, a main card scrap with welterweight contender Alan Jouban on the UFC on FOX 22 card in Sacramento, California, on Saturday, Dec. 17. All the back-and-forth banter with Jouban on social media in the leadup to the fight has been well documented, but Perry isn't quite finished with the verbal haymakers.
"The guy is a vet." Perry said. "He has been there. Good for him. I just got here. I have been working for this my whole life. If I was 35, I would be champion of the world. I would be known a lot more than he is at that age. He had his chance. When it's time to fight I am going to end it in the first round. I am going to smash this man. I'm telling you I am going to knock Jouban's head off. He can't hold my jockstrap."
The supremely confident Perry has good reason to be so self-assured, as his record stands at an unblemished 9-0 with all nine victories coming by way of knockout. He is not only trying to add Jouban to the highlight reel and derail his title hopes but also snatch one of Jouban's other sources of income in the process.
Perry feels once he conquers the challenge in front of him that he will set in motion his grand plan of running the division. Once he's on top, Perry then plans to start taking whatever he wants from whoever he wants.
Oct 8, 2016; Manchester, UK; Danny Roberts (red gloves) fights against Mike Perry (blue gloves) during UFC 204 at Manchester Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
"Jouban got a Versace contract." Perry said. "I'm trying to get that, too. I'm going to mess his face up and tell them they need a new model. I'm going to wreck everything. I'm ruining everything for everyone else. This is my turn. This is my time. Nobody is going to stop me. Period. Everything is mine."
Perry is a fighter motivated by raw emotion and a certain level of drama. It is all fuel to his fire in life, in training and ultimately inside the cage.
Perry is making an effort to keep it more positive in various aspect of his life. He keeps his inner circle small. Those he truly trusts and relies on can be counted on one hand with fingers to spare.
"I'm just talking a little trash." Perry said. "I work on that emotion in training. You saw the Ultimate Insider. I got a little emotional. I'm young. I have to grow and learn. Sometimes I take a step back and look from the outside in and need to smack myself in the back of the head. I don't listen the same as everybody else. I don't hear words the same way as everybody else. S**t, I don't even understand myself."
"My girl, my trainer Mark Nicholson, and my coach Julian Williams. These are people that are in my training circle. When it comes to hanging out with friends in life, I don't hang out with anybody anymore. I pay attention to what those few people close to me say, because they can prove it to me. These are the people that if I say 'bring your mouthpiece and show me' they will. They will break it down to where I can comprehend it. We are all learning about me out here."
Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Hyun Gyu Lim (red gloves) competes against Mike Perry (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Perry is a big talker and an even bigger dreamer. He envisions leaving behind a grand legacy when he hangs up the gloves and steps out of the Octagon for the last time. He believes the years of sacrifice, hard work, and dedication will offer a huge payoff when it's all said and done.
"We have to build a legacy." Perry said. "I'll enjoy it more when it's all over, when I'm done at 50 years old. I want to fight like Dan Henderson. I want to have a career like that. I will look back then and enjoy everything. For now, we are working. There is no play time. I'm going to be 40-0 with titles in three different weight classes. I'm going to be rich as hell.
"Anywhere I go I'm going to have to have somebody with me. I won't be able to fly on a regular flight. I will need a private plane. It's gonna be a good life!"
short but destructive MMA career.
Perry is less than a month away from his biggest test to date, a main card scrap with welterweight contender Alan Jouban on the UFC on FOX 22 card in Sacramento, California, on Saturday, Dec. 17. All the back-and-forth banter with Jouban on social media in the leadup to the fight has been well documented, but Perry isn't quite finished with the verbal haymakers.
"The guy is a vet." Perry said. "He has been there. Good for him. I just got here. I have been working for this my whole life. If I was 35, I would be champion of the world. I would be known a lot more than he is at that age. He had his chance. When it's time to fight I am going to end it in the first round. I am going to smash this man. I'm telling you I am going to knock Jouban's head off. He can't hold my jockstrap."
The supremely confident Perry has good reason to be so self-assured, as his record stands at an unblemished 9-0 with all nine victories coming by way of knockout. He is not only trying to add Jouban to the highlight reel and derail his title hopes but also snatch one of Jouban's other sources of income in the process.
Perry feels once he conquers the challenge in front of him that he will set in motion his grand plan of running the division. Once he's on top, Perry then plans to start taking whatever he wants from whoever he wants.
Oct 8, 2016; Manchester, UK; Danny Roberts (red gloves) fights against Mike Perry (blue gloves) during UFC 204 at Manchester Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
"Jouban got a Versace contract." Perry said. "I'm trying to get that, too. I'm going to mess his face up and tell them they need a new model. I'm going to wreck everything. I'm ruining everything for everyone else. This is my turn. This is my time. Nobody is going to stop me. Period. Everything is mine."
Perry is a fighter motivated by raw emotion and a certain level of drama. It is all fuel to his fire in life, in training and ultimately inside the cage.
Perry is making an effort to keep it more positive in various aspect of his life. He keeps his inner circle small. Those he truly trusts and relies on can be counted on one hand with fingers to spare.
"I'm just talking a little trash." Perry said. "I work on that emotion in training. You saw the Ultimate Insider. I got a little emotional. I'm young. I have to grow and learn. Sometimes I take a step back and look from the outside in and need to smack myself in the back of the head. I don't listen the same as everybody else. I don't hear words the same way as everybody else. S**t, I don't even understand myself."
"My girl, my trainer Mark Nicholson, and my coach Julian Williams. These are people that are in my training circle. When it comes to hanging out with friends in life, I don't hang out with anybody anymore. I pay attention to what those few people close to me say, because they can prove it to me. These are the people that if I say 'bring your mouthpiece and show me' they will. They will break it down to where I can comprehend it. We are all learning about me out here."
Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Hyun Gyu Lim (red gloves) competes against Mike Perry (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Perry is a big talker and an even bigger dreamer. He envisions leaving behind a grand legacy when he hangs up the gloves and steps out of the Octagon for the last time. He believes the years of sacrifice, hard work, and dedication will offer a huge payoff when it's all said and done.
"We have to build a legacy." Perry said. "I'll enjoy it more when it's all over, when I'm done at 50 years old. I want to fight like Dan Henderson. I want to have a career like that. I will look back then and enjoy everything. For now, we are working. There is no play time. I'm going to be 40-0 with titles in three different weight classes. I'm going to be rich as hell.
"Anywhere I go I'm going to have to have somebody with me. I won't be able to fly on a regular flight. I will need a private plane. It's gonna be a good life!"