Jake Paul wants Mike Perry in MMA, too.
Paul (9-1) takes on Perry (0-1) in an eight-round cruiserweight boxing match July 20 in Tampa, Fla. The event airs on DAZN pay-per-view. “The Problem Child” is currently double booked in boxing – against Perry in July then Mike Tyson in November.
Paul still insists on making his MMA debut, previously offering Nate Diaz a big purse to fight him in the cage. PFL CEO Pete Murray told MMA Junkie that Paul’s MMA debut likely will happen in 2025, and Paul is open to fighting Perry again after they box – but in MMA.
“I’m down – when I beat Mike Perry in boxing, f*ck it, we can run it in MMA,” Paul said in an interview with DAZN. “I want an MMA fight. The (PFL) Smart Cage is literally right there.
“Once I start MMA, my wrestling background is going to come out, and I think I’ll be a very dangerous MMA fighter, as well. So, Mike Perry can get it – my hands are trisexual.”
Perry has a counter offer. The BKFC star proposed they fight in a bare-knuckle boxing match instead, a discipline in which Perry is undefeated.
“Cap, why not bareknuckle? Why not box bare knuckle?” Perry responded. “I’ll take Jake’s back. Wrestling and jiu-jitsu, that’s not something you just keep in your back pocket.”
Perry hasn’t competed in MMA since a decision loss to Daniel Rodriguez in August 2021. After 15 octagon fights, Perry parted ways with the UFC later in the year.