Despite being a “low-key” fan, Mickey Gall doesn’t think Mike Perry has been doing well as of late.
The two welterweights are set to fight Saturday in the welterweight co-main event of UFC on ESPN 12 in Las Vegas. Gall (6-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has been preparing for the best version of his opponent despite believing he’s seen the opposite.
“I’m going to be prepared for the best Mike Perry, but if I really think about it, I think he’s been regressing,” Gall said at the UFC on ESPN 12 virtual media day. “I know I’m getting a lot better and I think he’s on a downward slide, but I’ve been training hard, I’m peaking, and I’m ready for the best Mike Perry that’s ever been.”
Perry, once regarded as a bright prospect in the UFC, is in a rough patch in his career. “Platinum” is on a two-fight skid and finds himself with a record of 1-3 in his last four UFC outings.
Gall believes Perry has taken a step back in his fighting career.
“In my film study you can see that (he’s regressing),” Gall explained. “I think Mike is probably an insecure dude, probably had a tough life coming up. I don’t know if he’s handling everything super well right now, but again, who knows. I don’t even want to speculate too much because it doesn’t matter. I know the hand I got, I know what I bring to the table, and I’m super, super confident.”
Gall has been anticipating a showdown with Perry even before he signed their fight contract. The 28-year-old has been wanting to share the octagon with Perry for quite some time.
“Man it’s about time,” Gall said. “I’ve mentioned this fight to Sean Shelby (UFC matchmaker) for over a year. We love the fight, we love the fight, and now that it’s finally come to fruition, we’re happy.
“We got to work because I had a feeling this would be coming. I’ve been preparing, you can ask people I’ve said, ‘I bet I’ll fight this dude in the next year,’ and I said that like a year ago. I’m just happy it’s happening, and like I said, I am a low-key fan of him. He brings it and that’s exactly what I want. I know my hand, we pretty much know his hand, and I’m ready to lay the hand down and let the chips roll.”
Mickey Gall thinks Mike Perry is 'regressing,' career 'on a downward slide'
