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How an epiphany helped Mike Perry transform from a UFC castoff to a combat sports star ahead of Jake Paul bout
CBSN
Perry's life has been a bizarre and amazing journey of growth, domestic bliss and maturation ahead of the biggest fight of his life
In the world of combat sports, where the bizarre and obscene are often more expected than feared, it's becoming increasingly difficult to see or hear something that actually shocks you. That's why Wednesday's interaction involving Mike Perry stood out in such a unique way.
Perry (0-1 in boxing, 14-8 in MMA), a former UFC journeyman who has used the bareknuckle platform of BKFC (of all places) to become an unlikely pay-per-view star, was finishing up his media day ahead of Saturday's high-profile boxing match against Jake Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) in Tampa, Florida (DAZN PPV).
When asked about the recent controversy surrounding boxing superstar Ryan Garcia, which includes -- among a handful of outrageous moments -- Garcia's liberal use of racial epitaphs and religious slander, particularly against blacks and Muslims, the response from Perry was as surprising as it was refreshing.