Advertisement
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

UFC: Mike Perry’s redemption story through the eyes of unlikely friend and Blackburn Rovers footballer Jay Haddow

  • Perry shocks MMA world by announcing his new girlfriend as only cornerman in Fight Night bout against Gall
  • Teen footballer and Perry superfan Haddow recounts being personally invited to watch Perry vs Neal fight

Reading Time:5 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
UFC welterweight contender Geoff Neal lands a punch on Mike Perry at UFC 245 in the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas in December 2019. Photo: AFP
Andrew McNicol

UFC favourite Mike Perry faces Mickey Gall at this weekend’s UFC Vegas 4 and card in what is likely to be a fun welterweight scrap. Much of the attention has veered towards “Platinum” Perry’s announcement that his new girlfriend will be the only person cornering him at the Apex Arena as he plots a remarkable comeback.

Advertisement
Perry (13-6) last fought in a devastating first-round TKO loss to Geoff Neal in December, putting him on a two fight-losing streak having fallen to Vicente Luque via split decision months earlier. The 28-year-old American opted to ditch his coaches, and separate from his wife of seven months (known as “The Platinum Princess” by fans), before embarking on what he labelled a solo-driven “Platinum Martial Arts” fight camp.
While there have been several eyebrows raised over Perry’s combat sports-related decisions leading up to the fight, Hong Kong-born Blackburn Rovers under-18s footballer Jay Haddow is certain his friend will get the job done – and he would know.

“One of the saddest moments was seeing him and his ex-wife holding hands with his coaches behind him. He just stopped to look at the big screen while Neal was doing his post-fight press conference,” said the 16-year-old Haddow, who was personally invited to the fight by Perry himself.

Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow runs with the ball for team Blackburn Rovers against Middlesbrough. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow runs with the ball for team Blackburn Rovers against Middlesbrough. Photo: Handout
Advertisement

“All four of them just looked up at the screen at highlights of Neal doing the kicks while the fans reacted. It really got to me – but I think he took it well.”

loading
Advertisement