Mike Perry Says He’s a Fan of Donald Cerrone Despite Playing Mind Games With Him

Mike Perry spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 139. Highlights are below:

On his “mental warfare” toward Cerrone: “Over the next couple of days, he’s going to get a lot more uncomfortable. And I’m going to get in his face every chance I get.”

On actually being a fan of Cerrone’s: “There’s not love until Sunday, and I don’t think he’ll want to be friends after Sunday. I love him, though. I love ‘Cowboy.’ He’s such an iconic figure in this sport. And it really is an opportunity, ‘Platinum’ vs. ‘Cowboy,’ 25 years of fighting. This is huge. But we’ve got to be 25 years of fighting, right? We’ve got to be mean, angry and aggressive. We’ve got to talk a little (expletive).”

On if he sees Cerrone in the same light as Georges St-Pierre and Michael Bisping: “Absolutely. I’m turned all the way up for this, man. This is the best Cowboy I’m ever going to see.”

On his plan for the fight: “It’s the best ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry the world has ever seen. And that’s all you’re going to need. I’m going to take over the show. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do. And I’m going to get that knockout win. I’m going to get that $50,000 bonus. And the only record he’s going to break is the most walks. That’s the only record that he’s going to break.”