Matt Brown highlights why UFC vet Mike Perry chose Dillon Danis MMA fight over BKFC bare-knuckle boxing match

Mike Perry and Dillon Danis are all set to collide in a professional MMA fight, the announcement of which caught many by surprise a while ago. 

A welterweight mixed martial arts matchup between Perry and Danis will headline the inaugural Duel: Arena event. The hybrid fight card would also feature boxing and kickboxing matches. Duel Arena 1 is set to go down at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, August 29. 

Certain sections of the combat sports community asserted that Perry ought to have made his long-awaited return to bare-knuckle boxing competition instead. A former UFC star, the Michigan-born Florida-based athlete has carved a unique legacy as a superstar in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing, becoming an icon of ungloved combat in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). 

Former UFC welterweight knockout artist Matt Brown has now chimed in on Perry's decision to fight ex-Bellator MMA star Danis in MMA instead of taking a bare-knuckle boxing fight against another opponent. 

Matt Brown explains BKFC great Mike Perry choosing Dillon Danis MMA fight; alludes to the Darren Till element

Discussing Mike Perry's highly anticipated MMA match against BJJ savant Dillon Danis at Duel Arena 1 this Saturday, Matt Brown and Damon Martin of MMA Fighting seemingly concurred that the Floridian is the favorite to emerge victorious. 

Brown praised the sport of bare-knuckle boxing and the BKFC organization, stating, "I'd like to see Mike do the bare-knuckle. I think it's exciting. It's one of the few sports outside the UFC that is legitimately exciting and just cool to watch. And I love what they're doing over there."

Moreover, the retired MMA fighter made an allusion to the Darren Till element in this equation. For context, Till is scheduled to compete in a much-discussed bare-knuckle boxing showdown against fellow UFC veteran Yoel Romero; they'll headline BKFC 94 in Manchester on September 26. 

Brown, on his part, implied that Perry chose an MMA fight against Danis, who's only competed thrice in the sport, because he believes it's comparatively less dangerous than facing his longtime rival Darren Till or other elite bare-knuckle boxers in the BKFC. 

He explained, "I think fighting, like, a Dillon Danis -- he's just capitalizing on his name... I'm sure he's getting paid a great amount for it. He's probably going to be thinking this is easier than doing a bare-knuckle fight. Right? If he goes bare knuckle, I mean, he's probably gonna be fighting a Darren Till or a f**king, some killer. Dillon Danis isn't really that hard of a fight for him." 

However, Brown warned that there is the threat of Danis potentially catching Perry in a submission. "The Immortal" suggested that Perry would likely secure a dominant victory over Danis in MMA. 

Matt Brown on the importance of drawing attention; reaffirms Mike Perry pick over Dillon Danis

The MMA fighter-turned-analyst notably alluded to the attention that Danis draws to his fights, underscoring that today's world prioritizes "day trading attention" -- implying that attention is a significant currency, which is why "El Jefe" finds himself in high-profile fights such as his imminent clash against Perry. 

Furthermore, Brown predicted that Perry would score a lucrative payday from the Danis fight and would be seen returning to the BKFC soon. He picked Perry to win, whilst also warning that anything can happen in MMA, and Danis might pull off the upset. 

Perry extensively competed in the UFC from 2016 until his promotional exit in 2021. His next, and most recent MMA fight, saw him notch a cut-induced TKO finish of the legendary Nate Diaz at MVP MMA 1 back in May, marking the end of his five-year MMA hiatus. 

On the other hand, Danis, a BJJ world champion who's also dabbled in boxing and freestyle wrestling, last competed in MMA under the Misfits MMA banner. He submitted Warren Spencer to bag the Misfits MMA light heavyweight championship back in August of last year. 

Watch Matt Brown's assessment -- of Mike Perry opting to take on Dillon Danis over his BKFC comeback -- below: 

Matt Brown totally understands why Mike Perry took the Dillon Danis fight over a BKFC fight against Darren Till:

"If he goes bare-knuckle, he’s probably going to be fighting a Darren Till or some killer. Dillon Danis isn’t really that hard of a fight for him."

(🎥 @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/KR7tYeXUzl

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 25, 2026