Mike Perry defends BKFC title vs Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 Newark

Mike Perry will defend his BKFC King of Violence title against Jeremy Stephens on Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, headlining BKFC 82, a card that also features Christine Ferea versus Jessica Borga for the Queen of Violence belt and the bare knuckle debut of former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar against Jimmie Rivera. The matchup between Perry and Stephens was the focal point of a tense press conference on Thursday in Newark, where Conor McGregor, a part owner of the promotion, warned Perry that his place in the organization depends on his performance.

McGregor, standing between the two headliners, told Perry, "If you don't perform, you're gone," and urged that the winner should move quickly to a fight for the promotion's middleweight world title. Perry, who has not fought in BKFC since April 2024 and fought Jake Paul in a boxing match in July, defended his standing in the promotion and said he expects to win Saturday's bout and consider larger opportunities afterward. The exchange grew heated at times, with both McGregor and Perry disputing the significance of BKFC titles and whether Perry should face current middleweight champion David Mundell next.