Mike Perry just says it how it is, you know? When you have your nickname “Platinum” tattooed above your eye in cursive, there’s no way you can keep a low profile anyway. After a loss to Alan Jouban ended his nine-fight win streak, he’s about to fight Thiago Alves at UFC Pittsburgh and try to keep in the win column. The outspoken welterweight wildman recently  voiced his opinion on ‘good guy’ Tyron Woodley. The UFC welterweight champion he hopes to fight one day.

“I thought it was a championship performance [against Demian Maia]. I thought [Tyron Woodley] did a great job. Everybody hates on him. I think that’s what they’re supposed to do. I think they’re supposed to hate on ‘T-Woodley.’ That’s who ‘T-Woodley’ has become, this hated figure as a champion who just fights smart. People are mad how smart he is. I like the champ, he’s a good guy. I’ve talked to him a few times. He knows it’s a possibility one day we’re going to fight, but it is what it is.”

“It’s the fight business, and he ain’t going to have that clean performance against me, because Demian Maia, he can’t throw a damn punch. He couldn’t punch his way out of a wet paper bag. He grabbed him, he ain’t have no wrestling to take him down. He just grabs people, takes the back and hugs on tight. [Jorge] Masvidal did a fantastic job of defending that, he just couldn’t get him off his back, he couldn’t keep him off. ‘T-Woodley’ is an amazing wrestler and was way too strong. Simple stuff. I’m learning from watching. I’m going to keep it all up here for the future.” — Mike Perry on The MMA Hour.

He couldn’t resist throwing some shade at Demian Maia, but Mike Perry was all compliments for Woodley. It also looks like he’s keeping an extra close eye for ‘the future,’ just in case he gets that title shot. Both Perry and Thiago Silva are currently unranked right now at welterweight, but if Mike Perry doubles up his April elbow KO of Jake Ellenberger with a finish of Alvez, he should see himself on the board.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/12/2017.