Combat sports sensation Mike Perry has dropped a bombshell revelation about his severe financial troubles that are threatening to derail his successful fighting career. The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships poster boy recently disclosed that he's grappling with a massive tax debt exceeding $800,000, sending shockwaves through the combat sports community.
The Shocking Tax Revelation
During a heartfelt appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, Perry laid bare his financial struggles with raw emotion. The veteran fighter expressed deep frustration about discovering that he owes the government $806,209.51 in unpaid taxes. What makes this revelation particularly painful for Perry is the timing - this financial crisis comes at what should have been the peak of his earning years.
Perry didn't mince words when assigning blame for his predicament. He directly pointed fingers at his accounting team for what he describes as catastrophic mismanagement of his fight earnings. This includes funds from his high-profile boxing match against YouTube sensation Jake Paul last July, which should have represented a major financial milestone in his career.
Accounting Team Under Fire
The BKFC star shared disturbing details about how he learned about the tax debt. According to Perry, his accountant casually mentioned recently seeing the Jake Paul fight money, to which Perry reacted with disbelief and anger. "Somebody dropped the ball. My accountant goes, 'Hey Mike, we just saw the Jake Paul money.' B*tch, what do you mean you just saw it? It's been there," Perry recounted during the podcast.
Perry's frustration reached such levels that he contemplated extreme measures. He revealed thoughts about selling all his possessions, withdrawing his money from banks, and potentially going off the grid or even facing prison time. "I owe everything to them. I'm ready to sell everything, take all of it out of the bank, hide it, and either go to prison for a little bit or just get off the grid," he confessed emotionally.
Career Crossroads for Combat Sports Star
This financial crisis represents a dramatic turn for one of combat sports' most recognizable figures. Perry built his reputation as a tough UFC competitor before transitioning to bare-knuckle boxing, where he's achieved remarkable success. His impressive resume includes victories over notable fighters like Luke Rockhold, Michael 'Venom' Page, Eddie Alvarez, and Jeremy Stephens.
Following his podcast appearance, Perry took to social media platform X to provide concrete evidence of his tax burden. He posted a screenshot dated November 25 clearly showing the staggering amount owed: $806,209.51. This move demonstrated his commitment to being transparent about his financial struggles with fans and the combat sports community.
The timing of this revelation couldn't be worse for Perry, who currently stands as one of BKFC's biggest attractions. His emotional statement about considering retirement - "I'm retiring, though. I did it, I'm done, they're not letting me be rich" - raises serious questions about his future in the sport. Instead of preparing for his next fight, Perry now finds himself battling financial demons that threaten to overshadow his athletic achievements.
This situation highlights the financial pitfalls that even successful athletes can face when relying on professional management teams. As Perry navigates this challenging period, the combat sports world watches closely to see how one of its most exciting performers will overcome this substantial obstacle both inside and outside the ring.
