In a little over a year inside the UFC, Mike Perry has made a name for himself as an emerging talent in the marquee 170-pound division. This past weekend he was supposed to have the opportunity to truly announce himself as a future title threat when he was set to face former welterweight title challenger Thiago Alves at UFC Pittsburgh, but that chance was derailed when Alves withdrew from the fight just days before the event because he wanted to stay in Florida with his family during Hurricane Irma.

At the time, Perry remained pretty quiet about Alves withdrawal, but now that the event is over, and there is the potential for the UFC to re-book their fight, the 15th-ranked welterweight is being more vocal about the situation. On the most recent episode of the Five Rounds podcast, Perry, who also lives and trains in Florida, blasted Alves for ducking him, saying that he used the hurricane as an excuse to cover for the fact that he wanted no part of the young fighter.

“Listen, here’s an opportunity for him to make a hundred grand in one night. He beats me, he gets a hundred grand because if I beat him, I get the hundred grand. He gets more than a hundred grand, he gets more than me to show up. So right there, if he was comfortable enough to stay behind and not get that payday just for showing up, he could have taken that money, flown his family even further out of state so they never would have had to sleep overnight in the gym, his dog wouldn’t have died . . .

“I made the adjustments, I came from Florida, a bunch of my family and friends came from Florida, they all showed up. His team from down south, ATT [American Top Team], they all showed up. Hector Lombard was there. We all came from Florida. He was mentally defeated. This young kid was gonna whoop that ass.”

Instead of Alves, Perry fought short-notice replacement Alex Reyes, making quick work of the newcomer with a Performance of the Night winning knee in the first two minutes. After the fight, Alves took to Twitter to say that he still had an “ass-whooping” to deliver to Perry and Perry says he’s still willing to accept the fight despite the fact that he believes Alves ducked him this past time. He also threw in a steroid accusation for good measure.

“If they call me, at the end of the day the UFC makes the final decision. They know that if they call me and say, ‘Here’s a name, what do you say?’ I don’t say no, I say yes. You’re gonna pay me regardless. I’m gonna show up and I’m gonna win regardless, don’t care who it is.

“So if they call and they offer the guy who backed out three days before again - who almost hurt the card because people were there to see me. There was a lot of hype for me to go and fight. People want to see me fight, period, because I come to fight. . . So if they call me and want Thiago again, I’ll accept the fight, I’ll sign the contract, I’ll prepare to destroy him but he’s going to mentally break again. He’s not gonna come fight me, and if he does, he’ll be on steroids when he shows up and I’ll still whoop his ass.”

Alves has never tested positive for steroids but did fail a post-fight drug test after UFC 66 for a diuretic and was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for eight months. Since then, Alves has maintained a clean record all while remaining at the highest levels of the welterweight division, including a win over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes.

But despite Alves’ pedigree, it’s clear that Perry believes himself to be beyond a fight with a fringe top-15 fighter. After his win, Perry called out former champion Robbie Lawler and also made overtures to facing former interim champion Carlos Condit. Perry says he does not expect to get those fights because those fighters will want to face men ranked higher than him and he has the same mindset. He’d accept a fight with the unranked Alves but he’d prefer to face any of the guys in front of him in the rankings.

“The top 15 guys ahead of me. Who is gonna have a fight that’s gonna fall out? Call me on three day’s notice. S**t happens, 170-pound fighters lose fights. Call me.”

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VIDEO STEW

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Free fight.

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LISTEN UP

Heavy Hands. Breaking down Canelo-GGG and Rockhold’s return.

Fights Gone By. Jack Slack on Canelo-GGG and the Byrd madness.

The MMA Circus. Marlon Vera and Rick Glenn interviews.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Sean Shelby knows what’s up.

The most vicious beef in MMA continues.

Gotta say, the @GoldenKnights twitter feed is the best in sports, IMO. Funny, sarcastic, self-deprecating... Very well done. Sports are fun! — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 20, 2017

YOU SIT ON A THRONE OF LIES. https://t.co/8hJQ8rPrea — Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) September 20, 2017

Fight buildup.

That'll be you in the bottom after the knockdown. https://t.co/M7RTMMLLch — Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) September 20, 2017

GOOD ONE — Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 20, 2017

More beef.

I guess in a way it's smart.@johnlineker talks all that shit on twitter but talks a different game to the UFC behind doors."No, Not Caraway" https://t.co/FS1k6U6pyZ — Bryan Caraway (@BryanCaraway) September 20, 2017

I said october 28. Pussy wussy didnt want to fight, the line moved! — John Lineker (@johnlineker) September 20, 2017

Even more beef.

What did you say when I wanted to fight you previously "that fight wouldn't do anything for me" @FunkMaster_UFC #whatgoesaroundcomesaround — Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) September 20, 2017

LOL and now you turned down Assuncao and he has to fight Matt Lopez. So what is it?! Karma or you just scared to risk your booster seat? https://t.co/rKtTtQCaPj — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 21, 2017

Respectful matchmaking.

Hey @GilbertDurinho it would be a honor and a great challenge to fight you but I cant give you a answer for december yet — Olivier Aubin (@oliaubin) September 20, 2017

Let me know when you can https://t.co/pKVHkFEZER — GILBERT BURNS (@GilbertDurinho) September 20, 2017

Mike Perry against the world.

Can I get you ❤️ ? — Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) September 20, 2017

I'd hammer this body builder as well. Can't lie. Would be fun https://t.co/HcgeBcKNQ7 — Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 20, 2017

@CarlosCondit doesn't want to fight me. — Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 20, 2017

@ufc let's not forget I beat a #13 ranked fighter. I'm the reason he's not ranked anymore. So I wanna fight again. Short notice. Call Abe — Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 20, 2017

Let me check my schedule ..ok I'm free for either date https://t.co/cOJChcG7w7 — Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) September 20, 2017

Confidence.

The aging Legend @demianmaia signed his @ufc fight contract with me but unbeknownst to him it is his death warrant. #UFCSãoPaulo — Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) September 20, 2017

Rampage clearing up some comments.

What I said about fighters being on steroids wasn't a punch at what's going on with Jon jones,that statement was for all fighters pic.twitter.com/yw3rdOLae0 — Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) September 20, 2017

Put on notice.

Gross.

Had an operation to remove an infection from my knee. Out of hospital in a couple of days and back to action in no time! pic.twitter.com/buWeoZzyIV — Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) September 20, 2017

IS SPIETH READY FOR THESE MMA ANGLES?!

@CubSwanson is one of the best UFC fighters in the world. When he needs time away from the cage, he turns to the golf course. pic.twitter.com/zYKkBRagHK — GOLF.com (@golf_com) September 21, 2017

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Christian Colombo (8-2-1) vs. Marcelo Golm (4-0); UFC Sao Paulo, Oct. 28.

Douglas Lima (29-6) vs. Rory MacDonald (19-4); Bellator, Jan. 20.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2013: Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson put on the 2013 Fight of the Year when they fought to a close decision at UFC 165.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

EXIT POLL

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