‘I think he’s a big dummy, but he can fight’ – Daniel Rodriguez opens up on his upcoming opponent Mike Perry

‘I think he’s a big dummy, but he can fight’ – Daniel Rodriguez opens up on his upcoming opponent Mike Perry
Daniel Rodriguez

It’s been quite a while since Mike Perry fought. He last took on Tim Means at UFC 255, and of course, it was marred with controversy. Perry missed weight by a whopping 4.5 pounds and he lost the match which went ahead as a catchweight bout. Many feared that Perry would be expelled from the UFC, since the UFC has been critical of fighters failing to perform. However, Perry held on and is now expected to take on Daniel Rodriguez, on the 10th of April.

Speaking about Mike Perry in an interview with Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie, his expected opponent Daniel Rodriguez revealed it was advantageous on his side since he was fighting a guy like Perry, who has quite a name in the UFC.

‘He’s going to have to look for a job after dealing with me‘

YouTube video

Daniel Rodriguez was quoted as saying, “Stylistically, it’s a great fight. It’s a fan-favourite fight. He’s got a reputation. … I’m trying to take that shine – even though he shines for some of the wrong reasons sometimes. But he’s got a lot of publicity. He’s got a big name, and I’m kind of aiming for them big-name fights. Really, that’s all it is. I think he’s a big dummy, but he can fight.“

FS Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP2KQggUpwY

Contrasting himself and Perry, Rodriguez said, “He’s on a losing streak. I’m coming off a loss, too, so it’s going to make for a really great fight because I’m coming in there with no intentions of losing, and I’m expecting a tough fight. He’s probably on his way out from the UFC, so if I’m that person that’s going to take him out, get him – you know. He’s going to have to look for a job after dealing with me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekm9jU3jaUg

Speaking about Perry’s match against Tim Means, Rodriguez said, “He fought Mickey (Gall), and Mickey is a really solid jiu-jitsu guy, and that went all three rounds and Perry won that. I just feel like he has crappy ground game – that’s pretty much it. He can take a punch. He fought Tim Means and they had a great, great fight, and I dropped Tim Means twice when I fought him. So I’m curious to see how my striking (works). I just feel like I’m going to pick him apart, and if he tries to take me down, I’m pretty safe on the ground.”

Daniel Rodriguez is coming off a loss against Nicolas Dalby, the same day Mike Perry lost to Tim Means. It was only Rodriguez’s second loss in his professional career. He would be looking to put his loss behind, and get back to winning ways, when he takes on Mike Perry.

Also Read : Gilbert Burns names a list of fighters he would like to take on!