Luke Rockhold clashes with Mike Perry in the BKFC 41 main event on April 29th as the organization takes over Denver once more.
The fistic fireworks broadcast on the BKFC TV App and Fite TV with the main card kicking off at 9 PM Eastern time.
Luke Rockhold spoke to Dylan Bowker of Bare Knuckle News to discuss if Perry in fact rubbed a booger on him or not at the Vegas presser, how psychedelics helped rekindle his fighting fervor as he transitions into a new combat sport, and so much more. Excerpts from the chat can be found below.
Luke Rockhold
At the first face-off in Las Vegas, did he (Mike Perry) rub the booger on you or was he just intimating he was rubbing a booger on you?
“Mike’s a showman. If he really rubbed a booger on me, I would have fuckin’ slapped the shit out of him. I’m sure it’ll come back around. But he plays a good act. I think it’s; yeah, you do you, kid. It’s fucking, I don’t know, keep the game a little more up. Mike’s where he’s at because of where he’s at because of how he acts.”
Things have gotten a bit heated but then there are some playful exchanges. What’s the general temperament going into this fight between Luke Rockhold and Mike Perry?
“I think there’s a mutual respect on fighting. Mike’s put his ass on the line and he’s fought some tough guys. He fuckin’ fights, he brings it. So I have respect for that. For people who fight. But we’re fighting each other and so as it gets closer to this fight, I’m sure it’s just going to get a little more dicey. A little more fuckin’ against the grain.”
BKFC 41
How has the use of psychedelics reignited your flame for fighting and given you broader life perspectives overall?
“I mean I’m a believer in psychedelics, for sure. They help you get out of certain situations and just to get away from the fight game. I kind of did it for the wrong reasons for so many years. Once I won the world title then I lost the world title. Then I was doing the Ralph Lauren deal and UFC was kind of fighting against me. You’re just trying to fight for your worth and you do it for the wrong reasons. The last fight was for me and you can see. You saw a little bit of a glimpse of what I’m doing.”
“I’m only getting better and that was just kind of shaking some rust off. My hands have come a long way since I left back three and a half years ago from the fight game. So I expect to just accelerate on where I was last time with Paulo (Costa) and show a lot more.”
Luke Rockhold continues, “Perry’s a smaller guy. It makes me use my range and my boxing a lot more. I’m going to sit down and I’m going to crack him. This kid doesn’t do well down the line. He doesn’t do too well with a lot of things that I bring to the table. I believe that styles make matchups and I’m going to fuckin’ hurt this kid.”
BKFC
What are some of Perry’s better stylistic attributes as a bare-knuckle boxer and what is the general gameplan vs ‘Platinum’?
“He’s great at taking a shot… Mike’s slick. Mike’s pretty slick. He can take a shot, he can give it, and he’s tenacious. Since he’s left the UFC, he’s somehow gotten a lot more cardio and a lot more strength. A lot more diligent and a lot more forward. So there’s a lot to understand and to take in to calibrate.”
“I’ve got to be in shape, man. We’re up in Denver and it’s those intense two-minute rounds. I mean those two-minute rounds look like they last longer than most fuckin’ UFC fights, honestly (laughs). Mike is just constantly in your face which just makes it feel even longer, I’m sure. Working against him, putting him in those clinch positions. Then weighing on him, slowing him down, and then tagging him down the line, man. He’s very straight forward and once you kill that momentum, just making him pay.”
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
“Making use of my length. That’s it and my power. I don’t think he’s ever felt power like mine. He’s fought a lot of guys but I promise you, I hit harder than anybody he’s ever been around in his whole fucking career, sparring and fighting. I hit hard.”
Any parting thoughts as we’re wrapping up here, Luke Rockhold?
“Tune in. Me and Mikey Perry. It’s gonna be bloody. It’s going to be a war for his face, enjoy.”
