Mike Perry is currently focused on promoting the upcoming Dirty Boxing 2 event, but he recently took some time to train with former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Ahead of the second official Dirty Boxing show, the BKFC standout traveled to Las Vegas and sparred a tough round with Strickland at Xtreme Couture gym.
Perry initiated the training session, explaining that he specifically went out of his way to make it happen by traveling to Vegas. He reached out to Strickland directly, exchanged contact information, and described their interaction positively, calling Strickland “such a great guy.”
Strickland even extended invitations to Perry for other activities like riding dirt bikes and shooting guns in the Las Vegas desert. However, Perry`s schedule only allowed him to attend the planned 10 a.m. sparring session.
Dirty Boxing 2 is set to feature former UFC heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik making his debut against Power Slap and BKFC veteran Devon Schwan in the main event.
Perry helped create Dirty Boxing as a platform to showcase his aggressive, high-pressure fighting style, an approach he clearly demonstrated during his five-minute spar with Strickland.
Describing the session, Perry noted the significant size difference, estimating Strickland held at least a 35-pound advantage. He mentioned it was valuable to experience Strickland`s style firsthand and feel some of his punches. Perry used his characteristic “Platinum pressure” to try and close the distance. He observed that Strickland was very defensive, pointing out that constant blocking or absorbing shots can wear an opponent down. Perry admitted he wasn`t fully conditioned for the intensity combined with the elevation in Las Vegas but successfully completed the round.
Regarding his own fighting future, Perry indicated that things are in the works, but he isn`t ready to make any announcements yet. He expressed frustration with the prolonged period of inactivity, having not competed in the BKFC ring for nearly 14 months and approaching a year since his boxing loss to Jake Paul.
Perry is accustomed to receiving negative comments from fans online and said he encountered some after posting about his spar with Strickland. His direct response to the critics? Step into the cage or ring with Strickland yourself and see what happens.
He suggested Strickland would likely be willing to spar with those commenters because “most people don’t want to go for Sean Strickland for five minutes.” Perry asserted that the punches he absorbed, even those rolled off the shoulder, would have knocked out many of the people leaving critical comments online. He stated his goal was to provide entertainment by sharing the sparring footage and found it “cool to spar Sean,” acknowledging Strickland`s abilities.
Perry mused about being conditioned for longer, multiple rounds with Strickland, believing his pressure style and willingness to absorb punches with his forehead could exhaust any opponent and make them seek a way out. He confidently stated that both he and Strickland are capable of finishing opponents.
He concluded his thoughts with a message against negativity, encouraging people to “Don’t be hating” and stating that he is focused on “elevating” and “lifting people up.”
