Fight Night Gets Dirty Again as “Platinum” Mike Perry’s DBX 2 Returns to Miami with a Card Full of Grudge Matches, Street-Brawl Energy, and Unfiltered Action.

June 12th, 2025

Mike Perry is no stranger to combat sports, having built a reputation through the UFC, bare knuckle boxing, and now as the co-owner and promoter of Dirty Boxing, or DBX. As he gears up for DBX 2 in Miami, Perry is laser focused on what sets this sport apart. Dirty Boxing fuses the raw intensity of MMA with the precision of boxing, stripping away anything that slows the action. Fighters wear four-ounce gloves, allowing for high impact punches, spinning back fists, Superman punches, elbows, and ground and pound finishes if an opponent is knocked down. However, there are no kicks. “Kicking is really used as an art to create distance to kind of stall and I think slow things down a lot,” Perry explains. “It hurts to kick. It hurts to get kicked, or it hurts to kick someone in the elbow or in the shin or in the knee.” Instead, DBX focuses on the kind of action you might see in “a street brawl,” as Perry puts it.

The decision to allow elbows became a cornerstone rule. “Elbows was that one rule, like it totally gave us our own lane,” Perry says. He believes it brings something fresh and dangerous to the sport, explaining that “if they’re guarding really well, you can throw an elbow through the guard.” Unlike traditional boxing gloves that cover more surface area, DBX’s design makes defensive tactics more difficult and offensive strikes more punishing. Perry shared a vivid example from DBX 1, recalling how Andre Arlovski “threw two elbows close together, right up the middle, and he sliced his opponent Terrance Hodge’s face right down the center.” Hodge’s cut was so severe the doctor stopped the fight, and Perry remembers that “he actually apologized, like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. We couldn’t keep fighting. I got a huge cut on my face.’”

Although Perry has embraced his new role as a promoter, he hasn’t walked away from his fighter mentality. “I need my training. I gotta put my work in,” he says. Known for his aggressive style, Perry adds, “I will take a hit to land a hit. And, you know, my best attribute is probably my ability to take punches.” Even with the success of the first event—which racked up over ten million streams—he admits the stakes feel higher this time around. “I’m starting to get a little nervous. I’m getting the sweats,” he confesses. With DBX 2, Perry is far more involved in promotions and matchups and is feeling the real pressure of ensuring everything runs smoothly. “Fighters can be a lot to deal with,” he says. “There’s a lot of things that pop up in the last week of fights… you want the show to come together, and you want everything to work out, but there’s always these little things you got to take care of.”

Co-owning the league with Jon Jones has been a positive experience for Perry. “I would like to say a bit of a brotherhood,” he says. “I’m super grateful for Jon and everything I’ve learned from him.” Both men aim to highlight and uplift fighters while offering fans thrilling, memorable fights. “We want to give promotion to these fighters who risk themselves, putting it all on the line in an aggressive combat sport,” Perry says. Whether people love it or criticize it, he welcomes the attention. “As long as you’re talking about Dirty Boxing… you can be hating, you could be enjoying the show, no matter what. If you tune in—and it is free on YouTube—you will enjoy the show.”

For Perry, DBX is more than a promotion—it’s a physical representation of how many MMA athletes train and fight. “It’s my style of fighting,” he says. “We go to the gym and we practice the boxing… you throw a big punch, then you pull your guy in, you throw a couple more, you push them, pull them, turn them.” That kind of hybrid combat experience sets the stage for compelling matchups. He’s especially excited about fights like Alex Caceres versus Rachmaninoff in the co-main event and a heated heavyweight battle between Alex Nicholson and Rob “The Wolf” Perez. “These guys have been talking so much trash to each other… I’m so excited. Maybe some blood will drop on me while I’m commentating on the sidelines,” Perry laughs.

Although many can’t imagine him outside the fight game, Perry is expanding into other ventures. “I don’t like to say a jack of all trades, because I do have some great qualities in singular areas,” he says. He’s launching Platinum Tequila and exploring roles as a commentator and public voice in the sport. “I’ve always been a bit of a Platinum Philosopher,” he jokes, “trying to teach the next generation a way of being a tough man, but not getting yourself into trouble.” With Dirty Boxing, Mike Perry is crafting something raw, innovative, and unmistakably personal—a full contact testament to his journey both inside and outside the cage.