Mike Perry vs Dillon Danis

First Round Management client Mike Perry is set to return to the cage on August 29, 2026, when he faces Dillon Danis in a welterweight bout headlining Duel: Arena 1 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The matchup marks the debut event for Duel: Arena, a new hybrid combat sports promotion backed by online sportsbook DuelBet, and will be contested inside a boxing ring rather than a traditional cage.

Perry enters the bout on a strong run of momentum. After leaving the UFC, he built a perfect 6-0 record in bare knuckle boxing with BKFC, earning the promotion’s “King of Violence” nickname along the way. He returned to MMA competition in May, picking up a second round corner stoppage win over Nate Diaz on the Rousey vs Carano card streamed on Netflix. That win pushed Perry’s overall MMA record to 15 wins and 8 losses, and set the stage for his next high profile matchup outside the UFC.

Danis brings a very different resume into the bout. A Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and longtime training partner of Conor McGregor, Danis built his reputation as a grappler before shifting his focus toward combat sports crossovers. He returned to MMA competition last year with a submission win over Warren Spencer in just 15 seconds, and has also competed in boxing and Misfits Boxing events. His MMA record currently stands at 3 wins and 0 losses.

The August 29 card is expected to feature a broader hybrid lineup that mixes MMA, boxing, and kickboxing bouts, along with additional names still to be announced. For fans of crossover combat sports, the Perry vs Danis main event offers a clear contrast in styles, with Perry’s pressure heavy striking approach set against Danis’s world class submission grappling.

As Mike Perry prepares for this matchup, First Round Management continues to provide the contract negotiation, fight booking support, and career planning that allow fighters to compete at the highest level while building sustainable careers both inside and outside the cage. FRM’s MMA management team works with fighters across major promotions and independent combat sports platforms alike, helping athletes like Perry maximize opportunities as the sport continues to expand beyond traditional promotions.