Mike Perry, the formidable “King of Violence” in BKFC, has publicly stated his desire for Conor McGregor’s swift return to the UFC octagon. However, Perry vocalized his belief that the UFC organization itself might be intentionally delaying McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback.
Coincidentally, Perry is also gearing up for his own return to mixed martial arts after an almost five-year break. He is slated to face Nate Diaz on May 16, as part of a significant event headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, which will be broadcast live on Netflix.
During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, “Platinum” Perry humorously took a dig at McGregor, envisioning the Irishman’s frustration over Perry and Diaz fighting each other instead of McGregor completing his rumored trilogy with Diaz.
A third encounter between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz had been widely speculated. Nevertheless, with Diaz now committed to the high-profile Netflix event, his immediate prospects for a UFC return, and thus the trilogy fight, may have become more complicated.
Perry then shifted to praising McGregor’s continuous efforts to secure a UFC return in 2026, simultaneously implying that the promotion is making the process unduly challenging for “The Notorious.” Perry remarked, “Conor, the world is excited to see you back in the ring. I know you are working on it. I know you are trying. I know the UFC is giving you a hard time. We are all looking forward to seeing him back in the ring.”
Mike Perry Issues a Challenge to Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor had reportedly shown interest in competing on the UFC Freedom 250 card, but his name was notably absent from the finalized June 14 lineup. Speculation now points to a potential return during the International Fight Week card in July. Despite McGregor’s manager meeting with UFC brass earlier this month, no official announcements have been made regarding the negotiation outcomes or McGregor’s next opponent.
Furthermore, Mike Perry suggested that a bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, once a highly anticipated conclusion to The Ultimate Fighter 31 season, no longer seems relevant. Instead, Perry directly challenged McGregor:
“He [Conor McGregor] could fight me in Bare Knuckle, maybe if he wanted.”
Notably, McGregor, who holds a partial ownership stake in BKFC, has previously expressed an interest in participating in bare-knuckle boxing in the future, even indicating a willingness to face the “King of Violence.”
For the time being, the former two-division UFC champion, with two fights remaining on his current contract, is intensely focused on making his return to the octagon within the year. McGregor has been rigorously training and is currently the most tested UFC fighter in 2026, signaling his absolute readiness to face any challenger.
