Conor McGregor is keenly observing the upcoming clash between Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens, set to take place this weekend at BKFC 82, where the coveted ‘King of Violence’ title will be on the line. This match marks Perry’s first defense of the title against fellow UFC veteran Stephens, with Perry aiming for an impressive 6-0 record in the bare-knuckle boxing circuit.
Both fighters have had notable interactions with McGregor, adding extra intrigue to the match. In the previous year, the BKFC co-owner publicly criticized Perry after his boxing defeat to Jake Paul, even suggesting that he might let him go from BKFC if he didn’t improve. McGregor has not shied away from making his opinions known about Stephens either, famously questioning his identity at the UFC 205 press conference in 2016.
During the BKFC 82 press conference held in Newark, New Jersey, McGregor weighed in on the upcoming bout, highlighting the significant size disparity between the two fighters: Stephens, a former UFC featherweight competitor, typically fought at 145 pounds, while Perry has been a welterweight at 170 pounds.
“We’ve got our King of Violence world title on the line by the current champion, Michael Perry, the King of Violence, making his return,” McGregor stated. He reminisced about Perry’s journey, acknowledging his past achievements while expressing concern over the fighter’s recent boxing loss.
“I’m excited to see it,” McGregor said, emphasizing the stakes involved. He added a confident jab toward Perry about the potential consequences of failure in the ring.
McGregor, known for his memorable quotes, expressed uncertainty over the fight’s outcome, stating, “I am absolutely undecided on it. This could go either way, but one hell of one thing’s for certain. This is gonna be one hell of a fight.” He noted both fighters are vying for a chance to compete against him, raising the stakes even higher as he taunted, “I’ll fight both of them at the same f—— time.”
The atmosphere at the press conference was largely respectful compared to their previous encounter, which had erupted into chaos at BKFC 80. With the fight scheduled to stream live on DAZN pay-per-view, fans are eager to see how this clash unfolds, promising another thrilling chapter in bare-knuckle boxing history.