UFC veteran Brandon Jenkins secured a first-round finish against Mike Perry at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, but the victory has sparked debate over whether a clean strike or a freak accident caused the stoppage, according to MMA Junkie Radio. Stepping in on short notice to replace Dillon Danis in the main event of Duel Arena 1, Jenkins improved his professional record to 18-11 after Perry suffered a dislocated shoulder during an exchange.
The Controversial Finish at Duel Arena 1
The main event conclusion arrived in the opening round when Perry’s shoulder popped out of place while he was throwing punches and working inside a collar tie. Social media reactions quickly labeled the outcome a fluke, prompting pushback from Jenkins, who maintained that his offensive output directly caused the injury. According to an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Jenkins stated that he landed a series of right hands and spinning elbows before connecting with a left elbow to Perry’s head that triggered the dislocation sequence. Jenkins shared an alternate angle on Instagram showing the impact of that specific elbow just before Perry’s arm gave out. Jenkins added that independent doctors reviewing the footage online confirmed the strike caused the joint to pop out of place.
Short-Notice Preparation and Weight Class Challenges
The matchup came together rapidly, forcing Jenkins to accept the middleweight bout at 185 pounds on just 48 hours’ notice. Jenkins noted that he was eating spaghetti at home when he received the call to make weight in a 15-hour window. Because of the rushed circumstances, Jenkins has made it clear he wants to return to the welterweight division at 170 pounds for any future bookings. The short-notice opportunity materialized after his scheduled fights against Dillon Danis earlier in the year failed to materialize, according to MMA Junkie.
Future Matchup Targets and Rematch Plans
Looking ahead, Jenkins expressed a strong desire to run it back with Perry once the former UFC fighter recovers from his shoulder injury. Beyond a rematch with Perry, Jenkins also set his sights on Nate Diaz, telling MMA Junkie Radio that he wants the bout because he previously defeated Diaz’s training partner, Chris Avila. As of publication, Perry has not announced a definitive recovery timeline or confirmed whether he will accept an immediate rematch.
Keep reading