SITTING in a prison cell after a botched robbery – Mike Perry’s prospects in life looked bleak.
But after serving his time and turning to a career in professional fighting, Perry has completed a complete life turnaround.
The American was raised in Michigan, were racial tensions were high in Perry’s predominantly black neighborhood.
It meant Perry was brawling in the streets way before he was being paid to do so as a profession.
“I’ve always been a fighter. Being born in Flint, Michigan, we got great fighters from that area,” Perry told SunSport.
“And, I ain’t gonna front being a white boy, having to defend yourself, just hazing in school between the boys.
“Guys were strong already and at a young age, I remember guys being 6ft tall with beards in middle school, dunking the basketball and that went around all the sports, football, basketball, boxing, wrestling.”
Perry discovered his talent for throwing hands well before picking up prizefighting paydays.
“I always just had a knack for physicality,” he said.
“I was strong, I was short, I was low to the ground and it took me a long time to realise that I had those abilities. I didn’t know.
“And then I’ve been coached a lot, had lots of different trainings in my life.
“It’s just something that I’ve had in my back pocket and that if I get mad or angry, I can fight, I can fight out of anything.”
Sadly, it did not take long for trouble to find Perry.
In 2011, aged just 19, Perry and a pair of accomplices drove to a home with the intention of committing armed burglary.
But it was botched as the homeowner was in – although police happened to be scoping the area and caught the trio red-handed.
Perry was sentenced to two years house arrest and probation – but he was later jailed after violating his terms.
He finished the rest of his sentence incarcerated – but it kickstarted the turnaround his life needed.
“I did learn a lot from it,” he admitted.
“It was like a strict boarding school and you’re in there with a bunch of other guys who can’t get their s*** together either and you got nothing in there but time to get your s*** together.”
Perry would spend time in the jail house gym or doing his own makeshift workouts in his cell when he was not working.
“I had a job, I went to two different jails without leaving jail,” he said.
“They transferred me a couple of times and I worked in the kitchen at one, so I could eat more.
“It’s like you worked for just for food, for extra food in there. And then at the other one, I worked road crew where we got to leave and I weed whacked.”
When Perry was released he got a job at a UFC gym teaching kickboxing classes while having a few amateur MMA fights.
He made his MMA debut in 2014 and in just two years and seven bouts he was signed by the UFC.
“I started making jumps and leaps and in the pros and in a short amount of time,” he said.
“I think two years, I had seven knockouts in under the third round.
“I hadn’t even been to the third round and then I got to the UFC and knocked out a couple more.”
It was like a strict boarding school and you’re in there with a bunch of other guys who can’t get their s*** together either and you got nothing in there but time to get your s*** together.
Mike Perry on his prison time
Perry would go on to become a cult hero in the UFC, beloved for his toughness and all-action style.
He spent five years in the UFC before leaving in 2021 to find his true calling.
Perry signed a deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and became the face of the brand thanks to his gritty style.
He is 5-0 with exposed fists having knocked off some of MMA tops stars of recent years.
And after years of callouts, Perry has finally landed his dream fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Paul, 27, was due to face Mike Tyson until the boxing icon, 58, withdrew amid a health scare.
So Perry – three years after sparring Paul in Miami – finally gets his crack at the 9-1 social media sensation.
And he promised that Paul will not hear the scheduled eighth and final round.
“My prediction for the fight, I think I’m gonna get in there, I’m gonna showcase my skills,” he said.
“I’m probably gonna hit Jake pretty hard throughout the fight early on, second round, third round, fourth round.
“And then I’m thinking I can stop him in the seventh. I’m looking to stop him, I’m looking to hit him hard with significant strikes and stop him before the end of the fight.”
