BKFC president David Feldman reacts to Mike Perry taking Dillon Danis fight rather than return to BKFC

Mike Perry has become the face of bare-knuckle fighting since joining BKFC, but his recent move to pursue MMA opportunities has prompted BKFC president David Feldman to weigh in on the fighter's future with the promotion.

Perry last competed in BKFC in October 2025 and has since returned to MMA, defeating Nate Diaz in May on the first MVP MMA card broadcast on Netflix. He is now scheduled to face Dillon Danis in an MMA bout on August 29 in Florida, a significant shift from the bare-knuckle circuit where he built his reputation.

Feldman told MMA Fighting that while Perry still has remaining fights on his BKFC contract, the promotion has allowed him to explore opportunities elsewhere. A potential high-profile matchup between Perry and Darren Till in bare-knuckle remains on the table, with Feldman expressing confidence he can arrange that fight early in 2027 based on conversations with both fighters.

Regarding the upcoming Danis fight, Feldman believes Perry's superior toughness and fighting ability would likely prevail, despite Danis's grappling credentials. "If they were standing up and fighting, I'd say Perry walks through him very easily," Feldman said, though he acknowledged Danis's submission skills could pose a threat in an MMA rules bout.

Feldman indicated Perry cited financial concerns when discussing his future, while also noting the fighter has accepted less money for his hometown MMA return against Danis. The BKFC president remains optimistic about negotiations after the August 29 fight concludes, saying his biggest opportunities still await him in bare-knuckle fighting.