Brandon Jenkins delivered a stunning first-round stoppage of Mike Perry at Duel Arena 1, stepping in on short notice after Dillon Danis withdrew and handing Perry his second loss since leaving the UFC.
Short-notice replacement changes the night
Perry, who had been slated to fight Danis at the Kia Center in Orlando, saw those plans change two days before fight night when Danis pulled out for undisclosed reasons. The late withdrawal not only altered the matchup but also resulted in a reduction of Perry’s fight purse by about half, according to reports.
Into that breach stepped Brandon Jenkins, a relatively unknown fighter who accepted the bout on short notice and capitalized on the opportunity. Jenkins stopped Perry in the opening round after Perry suffered a dislocated left shoulder during the exchange.
Perry addresses injury and recovery
After the loss, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor issued a written statement on X focusing on health and preparation. Perry acknowledged the role of training in building strength but said strength must be applied across life and pledged to prioritise recovery and stretching going forward.
“Health is wealth. The MMA lifestyle taking care of the body, mind and spirit. The gym helps the process of growing your strength, but strength is needed in other areas of life and should be exercised everywhere we go. Organize, be consistent, more recovery and stretching. Taking knowledge into my future endeavors. More to work for, more work to do.”
The comment came as Perry reflected on the setback and outlined a plan to emphasise recovery techniques after the dislocation.
Where this sits in Perry’s career
Perry, whose record now stands at 15-9, has become one of the better-known figures in bare-knuckle boxing since his departure from the UFC in 2021. The defeat to Jenkins is his second since leaving the promotion; the other loss was a 2024 boxing defeat to Jake Paul.
- Event: Duel Arena 1
- Perry record (after bout): 15-9
- Notable recent losses: Jake Paul (boxing, 2024); Brandon Jenkins (Duel Arena 1)
For Jenkins, the victory represents a major career moment by taking out a high-profile opponent in his first-round finish. For Perry, the loss raises questions about the toll of a demanding combat schedule and the impact of late opponent changes on preparation and injury risk.
| Fighter | Result | Notable detail |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Perry | Loss (stopped, 1st round) | Dislocated left shoulder |
| Brandon Jenkins | Win (stoppage, 1st round) | Short-notice replacement |
Short-notice fights are an accepted but risky part of combat sports. Fighters who step in have less time to prepare and less opportunity to tailor camp to a specific opponent — and the originally scheduled fighter must also adapt to a change in style and tactics. In this instance, the late change coincided with a painful injury for Perry that effectively ended the contest.
While the immediate aftermath for Perry will centre on medical attention and rehabilitation of his shoulder, his public statement indicates a focus on modifying training and recovery routines. The broader implications for his standing in bare-knuckle and boxing circles will depend on how quickly and fully he returns to competition.
For fans in Brandon and across Manitoba who follow combat sports, Jenkins’ upset is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in the ring and cage — and how opportunities can arrive on short notice for fighters prepared to seize them.
