“I Told Him Before the Fight…”: Talking to Joe Rogan, Mike Perry Reveals the Conversation He Had With Luke Rockhold Ahead of Their Bout at BKFC 41

Luke Rockhold didn’t get a very nice welcome in the bare-knuckle world at BKFC 41. After having his teeth broken by Mike Perry, the former UFC champion called it quits in the second round of the fight as ‘Platinum’ amassed a 3-fight winning streak. Perry detailed the fight and what he told Rockhold before they squared off.

Luke Rockhold has competed in several combat sports disciplines. Before amassing a successful career in the UFC, he participated in a boxing fight. However, it didn’t turn out to be his gig. Furthermore, after his UFC retirement in 2022, he tried his hands on bare-knuckle fighting. His first fight didn’t go the way he would have wanted and ended up suffering a gruesome injury.

‘Platinum’ reveals what he told Rockhold before the fight

Mike Perry spoke about the fight and stated the former UFC champion was successful in hitting him during the fight, too. He said, “When I hit him [Luke Rockhold] with that shot and he didn’t wanna get hit again, he had hit me.” However, those hits were nothing compared to the punishment he dished out on Rockhold. Moreover, ‘Platinum’ was sure about the fact that his opponent was really messed up after he landed his punches. “I got a little nod on my face right there. But I took it and I bet it hurt him,” said Perry. (7:41)

He also revealed the conversation he had with Luke Rockhold before the fight. Perry told Joe Rogan that he explained how different bare-knuckle fighting is in comparison to other combat sports. Additionally, ‘Platinum’ also warned Rockhold that punching him without the gloves will feel like the hardest thing he’s ever touched. Perry even predicted the ending of the fight. He said, ” I told him before the fight, ‘You’re gonna punch me in the head. It’s gonna be the hardest thing you ever hit, and I’m gonna headbutt you in your hands and punch you in your face and you’re gonna quit.’ And that’s what he did.”

Mike Perry claims that Luke Rockhold was afraid of getting hit

‘Platinum’s post-UFC career has turned out to be great for him. He is one of the few fighters from Dana White‘s promotion who found success in bare-knuckle fighting. During a recent appearance on the ‘JRE MMA Show’, Perry explained how he proved his mettle against Luke Rockhold at BKFC 41. He said, “I figured out how to utilize the bare knuckle. I mean, I knocked his teeth out. By the time I caught him, then he was like, ‘I am not trying to get hit like that again.'” (7:10)

He also mentioned that, since the fight, he has not had a conversation with Rockhold because he dislikes losers. “I haven’t talked to him about it or asked him because… he lost. So, I don’t talk to losers. I try to do what winners do, man.”

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While Perry continues his bare-knuckle journey, it is unsure as to what lies ahead for Luke Rockhold. He could decide to return to the Octagon like so many fighters who’ve come out of retirement to rejoin the UFC. We will have to wait and see how things pan out for the former UFC middleweight champion.

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