MMA fans were stunned when BKFC fight graphics depicting Michael Page and Mike Perry appeared on social media.
The graphic showed an intense shot of both men, and their respective flags edited to encircle both men. The information provided on the graphic let fans know that on the 20th of August Michael Page would be fighting Mike Perry in London in a middleweight, bare-knuckle, bout at BKFC 27.
The initial reaction to the post was varied. In the confusion, some fans believed that Page had departed Bellator, others thought it was a hoax. As members of the media, such as Ariel Helwani, re-posted the graphic it became real and other questions began to surface.
Everybody wanted to know how and why the bout was put together. The fight had never been teased and the two fighters were competing in entirely separate promotions and sports. Although the good natured Brit was on hand to provide the details and fill in the blanks.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page Goes Into Detail
Speaking to MMAJunkie Michael Page spoke about his last bout (against Logan Storley) and how Bellator told him he “wouldn’t be able to get back in there until October,” and how that did not suit him. He told Bellator, “I’m fresh. I’m burning to go. Let me box again, let me do something. My coaches hit me up and they said they might have an opportunity, but it’s obviously down to Bellator,” Page told MMAJunkie. “I presented the opportunity to Bellator, they spoke to BKFC, and it’s just been moving quite quickly since then.”
Therefore the reason is partially down to wanting to stay active, however there is more to it than that. Having competed in a plethora of martial arts, whether he is boxing, kickboxing or grappling. The addition of bare knuckle boxing is for what it represents to Page, particularly looking back into his past. “Since it got legalized I was definitely curious about doing it…in my youth there were people that I looked up to, and they were doing it when it was a bit more underground. It was always something I thought was a rite of passage as a fighter, a combatant, a warrior- which I class myself as.”
Going into this fight he will be preparing to fight Mike Perry. Mike ‘Platinum’ Perry is a figure that draws as much ire as it does excitement. A controversial figure, his fighting ability is legitimate. He competed in MMA’s premier promotion and won bouts against the likes of Paul Felder and Alex Pereira. In addition to that, he has already fought under BKFC’s banner, winning against Julian Lane as they went the distance.
“He’s a beast, yeah, he’s great…he’s a tough guy. He’s a true warrior. Bare knuckle definitely suits him, but that kind of style suits me as well. I’m just looking forward to putting on a spectacle for everyone that’s going to come.”
Michael ‘Venom’ Page ahead of his next against Mike Perry.
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
