Mike Perry Says Conor McGregor ‘Doesn’t Want to Fight, Just Talks,’ Envisions Rematch With Jake Paul Instead

Ross Markey | 07/03/2025
Mike Perry (L), Conor McGregor (R)

Engaged in a bitter feud dating over a year, Mike Perry has now expressed his reservations over the future of UFC star Conor McGregor amid their seasoned stalemate. Perry was seemingly handed his walking papers from the promotion last year after a loss in boxing against Jake Paul. After having taken on controversial puncher Jake Paul in a knockout loss, Perry’s performance irked new BKFC boss McGregor.

With the promotion tight-lipped on his future, Perry has since been goaded by the Dubliner for the last year, amid links to a potential grudge fight in a bare-knuckle first for the Irishman.

Perry claims while the McGregor fight does interest him, he realistically sees more of a chance of fighting in a rematch with Jake, who has expressed an interested in Dirty Boxing.

Meanwhile, sidelined from combat for the last four years, McGregor has failed in his bid for a return. His last venture inside a ring was at UFC 264 in 2021, where the Crumlin striker suffered a gruesome fracture of his tibia and fibula in a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to arch-rival Dustin Poirier.

McGregor did come close to a comeback last summer. But despite having been booked to headline UFC 303 against Michael Chandler, the former champion pulled out of the bout with hours to go, citing an alleged toe injury.

This, along with the reports that he is yet to submit a drug-test sample in six months, is making less confident of his return.

As far as Perry is concerned, a clash with McGregor is a pipedream for him. He believes the 36-year-old veteran’s days in combat sports are numbered, if not over, even following his recent face-off with BKFC favorite Jeremy Stephens at Kuncklemania 5.

“That’s a good one. I like that one,” Perry told Inside Fighting of a clash with McGregor. “I was thinking a little differently. …But I don’t see that guy coming to fight. And I don’t think that guy wants to fight. He just wants to talk.”, he admitted.

With four years without action for McGrgeor, in a sport which is continually passing him by, Perry is only the latest to join the chorus singing the Irishman ‘Fare Thee Well’.

Interestingly, the ever-hopeful Michael Chandler, who wasted almost two years of his prime in the UFC hoping for a big-money fight with McGregor, also seems to be forgetting the Irishman in the long march of time.

Chandler moves on to Pimblett clash

Having lost all hope for a grudge fight with McGregor, Chandler is now booked to return in April at UFC 314 to fight the scouser Paddy Pimblett. Though a far cry from the lucrative McGregor deal, Pimblett is at least sure to show up for the event.

Meanwhile, at 38 years of age, Chandler’s clock is severely running down. In his heart, he claims to believe that Conor would not want his last fight to be ended with a broken leg, being carried on a stretcher out of the arena, but admits he can’t speak of the Irishman.
 My heart of hearts says he’s coming back at some point, but if I was a betting man, I ain’t put money on it.”, the American fighter concluded.
Interestingly, this realization that the Dubliner has potentially made his final octagon walk already was made by an eagle-eyed analyst last year.
“If you pull out of a fight because of a discoloured pinky toe that may or may not be yours, that may or may not be broken, you’re not fighting again,” Chael Sonnen had said last summer, accusing the Irishman of faking an injury.
It just seems the rest of the MMA community is just catching up to Uncle Chael at this point.
Post Edited By: Smrutisnat Jena
Conor McGregor Mike Perry

About the author

Ross Markey

Ross Markey is a combat sports reporter based out of the Republic of Ireland, boasting more than 9 years experience covering a host of sports including football, boxing, and mixed martial arts. Ross has attended numerous live mixed martial arts events in the past during his tenure in the industry and his coverage of the UFC in particular spans a wide array of topics, reports, and editorials.

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