Former UFC bantamweight Erik Perez (19-7) returns to the cage on Friday night at Bellator 242 against Josh Hill as part of the event at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Perez, who lives in Tijuana, has been training in San Diego with Dominick Cruz. Prior to the pandemic, he had been taking the trip over the border to train at Alliance MMA. Once the pandemic hit, “things got crazy.”
Perez lived with Cruz in San Diego while training. He noted that due to the COVID-19 concerns, the camp has been small but “amazing.” “Every day I was leaning something,” Perez said about his training. “My reflexes are on point.”
Since leaving the UFC in November 2016, Perez re-emerged in Combate Americas where he had two straight wins via stoppage and signed onto Bellator. His debut came last December as he lost to Toby Misech. “I’ve been passing the days,” Perez said after his first-round loss to Misech waiting through the pandemic for another shot. He has two more fights with Bellator and hopes to re-up with the company.
He’s not looking past his opponent on Friday Josh Hill (19-3). “Josh Hill can wrestle, strike and kick. He has good hooks and throws them hard and switches stances.” The 33-year-old Canadian is coming off of a win against Vinicius Zani at Bellator 239, his promotion debut.
Perez noted that COVID-19 testing for the fight has been very good. “I was tested before the flight [from San Diego to Connecticut], tested one more time. When I came here [Connecticut] I was tested again and now I am in quarantine.” Perez was doing the telephone interview from the Fightsphere.
As for his trademark Lucha Libre mask that he has worn to the cage, he said that fans would have to wait and see what he has in store for Friday.
Perez hopes to get back into the win column at Bellator 242 on Friday night on DAZN and the Paramount Network.
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