Conor McGregor can root for Mike Perry all he wants. Jake Paul is cool with it and has a message for the UFC’s biggest star.
On Thursday, McGregor made his first public appearance as a BKFC co-owner at a press conference in Spain where he took a shot at Paul while using Perry as an example in an answer to a question about the potential for fighters to gain relevance competing for the promotion.
“(You can) make a new name for yourself (here in BKFC),” McGregor said. “Look at what has happened to Michael Perry, one of our big stars here – the ‘King of Violence,’ he titles himself. He’s had such a rise in the sport. Now he’s up against a little dweeb of a thing in a fight this weekend, (and) we’re all rooting for him.”
Conor McGregor calling Jake Paul a "little dweeb" at a bare-knuckle boxing press conference today ahead of Paul's fight vs Mike Perry on Saturday night…
[ @BareKnuckleFC] pic.twitter.com/bgZt3ZghYM
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 18, 2024
Later Thursday at a press conference in Tampa, Fla., Paul reacted to McGregor’s diss.
“You’re gonna see what I’m gonna do to their best fighter on Saturday night,” Paul said. “I’m gonna embarrass their whole entire league. This guy has no skill. Those (BKFC fighters) are just brawler, idiot, street fighter dudes, who have no idea what the sweet science is. Conor McGregor can say whatever he wants, but he won’t fight me either. Once I knock out Mike Perry, Conor McGregor, let’s run it, but you won’t do it because you know what’s gonna happen. You saw what I did to Nate Diaz, who you went toe to toe with.
“So, Conor McGregor, lay off the cocaine, get in the gym and start winning fights. Then maybe we can have a conversation.”
Perry took umbrage with Paul’s swipe at BKFC as a whole and immediately let that be known.
“He’s a disrespectful punk,” Perry said. “Those men and women fight for their families over there (in BKFC). They put it all on the line, and they get in that ring, and they put on shows for the fans.”
Paul and Perry will settle their own beef Saturday in an eight-round boxing match at 200 pounds, which takes place at Amalie Arena and streams on DAZN pay-per-view.
For more on the fight, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Paul vs. Perry.
