Mike Perry turns combat sports promoter, introduces new hybrid rules organization Dirty Boxing Championship
Add turning into a combat sports promoter to the list of things Mike Perry has done since his exit from UFC in April 2021. 'Platinum', who's set to take on Jake Paul on July 20 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, revealed that he will be venturing into the promoter space with Dirty Boxing Championship.
The American, following the weigh-ins for the Paul clash, was joined by his team at First Round Management, Josh McLean of Kanpai Media, and Adam Kovacs of Karate Combat at a press conference to announce the launch of the new combat sports organization. The promotion is built on a new concept of hybrid rules that fuses elements from various disciplines including boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA.
Check out the video below:
Combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani took to X to unveil details of the organization and features that make it unique. He revealed that fighters competing in the Dirty Boxing Championship will wear small five-ounce gloves and fight in an 18-foot ring. Competitors can elbow each other with a unique take on the ground-and-pound aspect. Regular fights will be contested in three, three-minute rounds, while championship fights will feature two more rounds.
He also added that they plan on launching their first event in September:
"They are hoping to do their first event in September. No broadcast deal yet. Mike says he is free to fight for them if need be. It is owned by the 5 people on the dais."
Check out the tweets below:
Thrilled by the launch of the new venture, Perry said in a press release:
"We foresee Dirty Boxing as a visually captivating and explosive contest of will between combatants. Opponents will box the sweet science gloved like an MMA fighter with the freedom to throw elbows like a Thai fighter. Plus, if the action hits the ground, fighters can keep striking to finish the fight. I am so proud to be standing here with my partners because today is Dirty Boxing Championship Day and this is the moment dirty boxing became legit.” [H/t: MMA Junkie]
Mike Perry reacts to the fiery weigh-ins ahead of Jake Paul clash
Jake Paul and Mike Perry engaged in a fiery face-off at the weigh-ins that escalated with the pair shoving each other. The shove descended into chaos with several security members getting in the mix to neutralize the situation.
Paul asserted that his success in boxing has led to several MMA fighters and UFC CEO Dana White hoping for his downfall. Speaking about the fiery exchange that led to the brawl, Perry said:
"They working hard to protect him, bro. But tomorrow night in the ring, when it's just me and him, no protection. He going down. You've seen how hard those big guys had to work to get me back. I was pushing through the (men). That's like a thousand pounds of pressure. That's called 'Platinum Pressure.' I'm putting it on him tomorrow night.’
Catch Perry's comments below (20:00):