Mike Perry says Darren Till rejected a multi-million-pound deal to fight him.
The former UFC welterweights have been rivals for years and after they both left Dana White’s promotion, it seemed inevitable that they would meet in bare-knuckle boxing.
Perry has become a superstar since signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship [BKFC], where he has picked up big wins over Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez.
A showdown with Till was on the cards until BKFC president David Feldman revealed that the Liverpudlian wants to take his combat sports career in a different direction.
Feldman didn’t reveal how much Till turned down, but ‘Platinum’ claimed it was ‘over $2million’ as he aimed a furious rant at his rival during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.
Perry said: “What’s he doing? What is he doing? I know they gave him a hell of an offer. Respect that you don’t care about that type of offer, and you want what you want.
“When you want what you want, that’s respectable. But that’s one thing about BKFC too — at the end of the day, screw the gloves. Test yourself for real. Up against the bone. Skin and bone, baby, that’s what’s in there. Test yourself.”
Despite turning down a monster payday, Perry claims that Till is still messaging him about a potential fight, so he hasn’t lost hope of it happening in 2024.
He added: “People want that fight to happen and it may happen.
“He’s still talking. He jumps in my DMs, he’s out drinking with his buddies and he’s like, ‘You s*** house, blah, blah, blah,’ talking s***.
“I’m like, it’s a brick s*** house, boy. I’m here. I’m at the arena. I’m at the fight. I’ve got an event. I’m going to get this money and you’re out here trying to make things happen. Well, stop.
“We’re slaves to the fight game, that’s what we signed up for when we became fighters. If he wanted to fight me, I think he would have had the opportunity and the chance.
“What? He wants to fight me with the gloves on? He wants to fight somebody else with the pads on his hands? It’s all good. I think maybe after this we can make it happen.”
“Maybe he’s just too busy having fun in life, just f****** around. I’m too busy trying to get this money while I can, while I’m strong, coming into the prime of my athletic career.”
Till hasn’t fought in any sport since losing to Dricus du Plessis in November 2022.
Following a run of three consecutive defeats, he was cut by the UFC but later claimed that he had requested to be released from his contract.
Till is planning to crossover to boxing and he’s been training hard.
No announcement has been made, but he must be working on a big fight for his squared circle debut if he feels confident enough to turn down millions for a scrap with Perry.
News Summary:
- Darren Till accused of turning down millions for bare-knuckle boxing match with long-time rival
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