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This sport always seems to find a way.
With outlet Happy Punch in conjunction with MMA matchmaker Dean Toole and newly created organization Duel, they released a fight poster on Friday announcing an MMA event in August. Atop the “Duel: Arena” billing, one where there is but a single bout announced thus far, will see Mike Perry (15-8) throw down with Dillon Danis (2-0) at 170 pounds. The organization, formed by online crypto casino Duelbet, has indicated that there will be MMA matches alongside kickboxing and boxing. It will all be contained in a ring at the Kia Arena in Orlando on Aug. 29.
Reaction to the fight itself has been overwhelmingly negative, with Ultimate Fighting Championship cutman Brad Tate as well as fighters Philip Rowe, Charles Johnson and Jorge Masvidal all responding quickly to the Instagram announcement post. Some have already campaigned to either join the card themselves or push for their friends or training partners to get involved. Many have suggested that this fight will not stay intact for long. Of note, this event may be co-promoted by Masvidal’s “Gamebred Fighting Championship” or “Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA” leagues, as the ticket site initially displayed the Gamebred logo rather than something listing Duel itself.
Of the two men billed in the marquee, Perry has remained consistently active across a variety of combat sports since his departure from the UFC in 2021. Having won just once in five of his last outings in MMA, Perry removed his gloves and kept fighting. The welterweight slugger stayed in the headlines by competing six times for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship organization, one where he claimed and defended the symbolic “King of Violence” trophy for his stoppages over Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens.
Additionally, Perry dabbled in professional boxing, returning to a sport in which he first joined in early 2015 when also just getting started in MMA. His loss to Kenneth McNeil marked his sole boxing match until he faced Jake Paul in 2024 in a late-notice spot, stepping in for legendary boxer Mike Tyson. Perry succumbed to strikes from the YouTuber-turned-boxer in the sixth round. He also dabbled in a one-off mixed combat card called “Triad Combat” where MMA fighters faced boxers in a triangle-shaped ring, winning in his lone appearance on the scorecards.
Along the way, “Platinum Mike” founded Dirty Boxing Championship, which mixes striking rules from various disciplines. Perry officially came back to MMA in May, when he was recruited by former adversary Paul to compete in the co-main attraction of the first MVP MMA show. Perry outdueled Nate Diaz, forcing the Stockton native’s corner to call a halt to the match two rounds in.
Danis has not competed in professional MMA since two 175-pound catchweight affairs in 2018 and 2019 under the Bellator MMA banner. He did appear in an MMA-adjacent show of Misfits 22 in August 2025, but the organization implements a time limit for grappling exchanges and therefore was billed an exhibition.
Like Perry, Danis also tried to tag into influencer boxing. At a Misfits card in 2023, he boxed Logan Paul and ended up getting himself disqualified after attempting takedowns and a guillotine choke in a boxing match. An irate Paul brother after the bout deemed Danis a “coward” while calling him, “a dirty, dirty human being.”
The much-maligned former jiu-jitsu player has been involved with numerous altercations at UFC events, to the point that he has been permanently banned from attending all shows. He is currently being sued by Logan Paul’s fiancé, Nina Agdal, for defamation, in a case recently updated as Danis’ attorney withdrew for a second time after Danis failed to pay his bills.
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With outlet Happy Punch in conjunction with MMA matchmaker Dean Toole and newly created organization Duel, they released a fight poster on Friday announcing an MMA event in August. Atop the “Duel: Arena” billing, one where there is but a single bout announced thus far, will see Mike Perry (15-8) throw down with Dillon Danis (2-0) at 170 pounds. The organization, formed by online crypto casino Duelbet, has indicated that there will be MMA matches alongside kickboxing and boxing. It will all be contained in a ring at the Kia Arena in Orlando on Aug. 29.
Reaction to the fight itself has been overwhelmingly negative, with Ultimate Fighting Championship cutman Brad Tate as well as fighters Philip Rowe, Charles Johnson and Jorge Masvidal all responding quickly to the Instagram announcement post. Some have already campaigned to either join the card themselves or push for their friends or training partners to get involved. Many have suggested that this fight will not stay intact for long. Of note, this event may be co-promoted by Masvidal’s “Gamebred Fighting Championship” or “Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA” leagues, as the ticket site initially displayed the Gamebred logo rather than something listing Duel itself.
Mismatch of the century with Perry vs. Danis
Of the two men billed in the marquee, Perry has remained consistently active across a variety of combat sports since his departure from the UFC in 2021. Having won just once in five of his last outings in MMA, Perry removed his gloves and kept fighting. The welterweight slugger stayed in the headlines by competing six times for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship organization, one where he claimed and defended the symbolic “King of Violence” trophy for his stoppages over Eddie Alvarez and Jeremy Stephens.
Additionally, Perry dabbled in professional boxing, returning to a sport in which he first joined in early 2015 when also just getting started in MMA. His loss to Kenneth McNeil marked his sole boxing match until he faced Jake Paul in 2024 in a late-notice spot, stepping in for legendary boxer Mike Tyson. Perry succumbed to strikes from the YouTuber-turned-boxer in the sixth round. He also dabbled in a one-off mixed combat card called “Triad Combat” where MMA fighters faced boxers in a triangle-shaped ring, winning in his lone appearance on the scorecards.
Along the way, “Platinum Mike” founded Dirty Boxing Championship, which mixes striking rules from various disciplines. Perry officially came back to MMA in May, when he was recruited by former adversary Paul to compete in the co-main attraction of the first MVP MMA show. Perry outdueled Nate Diaz, forcing the Stockton native’s corner to call a halt to the match two rounds in.
A Misfit among Misfits
Danis has not competed in professional MMA since two 175-pound catchweight affairs in 2018 and 2019 under the Bellator MMA banner. He did appear in an MMA-adjacent show of Misfits 22 in August 2025, but the organization implements a time limit for grappling exchanges and therefore was billed an exhibition.
Like Perry, Danis also tried to tag into influencer boxing. At a Misfits card in 2023, he boxed Logan Paul and ended up getting himself disqualified after attempting takedowns and a guillotine choke in a boxing match. An irate Paul brother after the bout deemed Danis a “coward” while calling him, “a dirty, dirty human being.”
The much-maligned former jiu-jitsu player has been involved with numerous altercations at UFC events, to the point that he has been permanently banned from attending all shows. He is currently being sued by Logan Paul’s fiancé, Nina Agdal, for defamation, in a case recently updated as Danis’ attorney withdrew for a second time after Danis failed to pay his bills.
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