Mike Perry Praises Girlfriend’s Cornering After Pivotal Win

There was plenty of discussion during fight week about the fact Mike Perry had decided that only his girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez, would be in his corner. But, ‘Platinum’ worked his way to a key victory at UFC Vegas 4, and afterward, he praised her cornering abilities.

Perry reports Gonzalez “did a great job”

Perry has changed up his training camp a couple of times in recent history. But, as his bout with Mickey Gall neared, he reported Gonzalez, and only her, would be in his corner.

Since Gonzalez is not a pro-fighter or coach, and because Perry was coming off back-to-back defeats, some questioned the thinking behind the decision.

Well, ‘Platinum’ grinded his way to a decision over Gall, and in doing so, may have silenced some of his critics. After the key win, Perry acknowledged that Gonzalez didn’t say too much during the fight, but when she did, it was helpful (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“She did a great job, she kept it very simple,” Perry said. “She shouted a couple of things during the fight and I remember telling myself, ‘OK, there you go, she’s getting into it now.’

And she was like, ‘Keep your hands up!’ There was that one time he swung and had just missed and she was like, ‘Get your hand back up,’ and I was like, ‘All right.’

“In the corner, when she was rubbing the ice on me she kept asking me, ‘Hey, is this OK? What else do you want? What else can I do?’

And she was trying to do more for me and it was really cool just sitting there quiet and just thinking about how the next round was going to go.”

Will this continue?

While it wouldn’t be surprising if we see Gonzalez in Perry’s corner in the future, it sounds like she won’t be the only one. After UFC Vegas 4, Perry relayed that he’s looking for a new team to join.

“Somebody that I can build with a friendship type thing,” Perry said. “Obviously, look I don’t want anybody else in my life. I just want me and my girl but obviously, I know I’m going to need some help.

And, who knows, if I go train with Yoel Romero, I’d be down for him to get a slot in the corner if he wants.

“I mean, who wouldn’t want to corner? I want to corner and get that front row seat too, that’s why I’m trying to build Platinum Martial Arts. That’s what I did tonight.

I built Platinum Martial Arts. I showed the world I understand how to win and I didn’t need anybody to help me do it.

I just needed my girl to bring me a bottle of water and rub that ice on my neck, God, it was so good. And yeah, it’ll be nice to build something.”

Romero is a member of the renowned, American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. So maybe we’ll see Perry heading there in the not so distant future?