Alex “The Spartan” Nicholson (Photo by Professional Fighters League)
Alex “The Spartan” Nicholson, a veteran fighter previously seen under the UFC, PFL, LFA, Gamebred FC, Titan FC, and XFC banners, is now set to step inside the Dirty Boxing ring June 14 in Miami against Rob “The Wolf” Perez.
UFC and BKFC star “Platinum” Mike Perry, also known as the King of Violence and owner of Dirty Boxing Championship, has successfully introduced a new ruleset to the combat landscape that brings pure anarchy to our beloved sweet science — a form of boxing with elbows, superman punches, and spinning back fists allowed, ground and pound encouraged, 4-ounce gloves embraced, and three-minute rounds designed to determine the dirtiest boxer in the game. It's certainly an unconventional development within the art of striking that the 35-year-old Nicholson finds to be rejuvenating.
“I’ve just been focusing more on my movement, not getting touched at all,” Nicholson told RG regarding potential adjustments to this unique format. “Hit and don’t get hit. That’s boxing. I’ve been fighting giants, too. It’s been costing me a little bit more. But elbows and boxing, that’s where I started. It’s kind of fun for me to go back to the basics. Not much different, just more fundamentals.”
The online feud between Perez and Nicholson has been littered with comedic skits, personal shots, and ruthless daily mind games, hilariously fueling the buildup to Dirty Boxing’s second official event. Nicholson didn’t expect Perez, who holds a .500 record in both professional boxing (3-3) and slap fighting (1-1), to lean in so heavily into trash talk; nonetheless, “The Wolf” enters 2-0 under DBX rules and expects his growing animosity towards Nicholson, a man with 18 professional MMA knockouts, to brew a barn burner in South Florida.
“It’s ridiculous and childish,” Nicholson responded.
“You know, they say, ‘Don’t write a check that your ass can’t cash.’ It’s silly to me. It reminds me of the amateurs. I go and I look, and I just don’t see anything. It’s delusional and funny. It’s brought me back to what I love about this. It’s exciting. I’m normally fighting the best people in the world every time I step in there, and then this? It’s almost like he’s some podcaster and I’m training like I’m fighting Mike Tyson mentally. I’m not sleeping on the dude, but if you looked on paper, as a guy that’s into the sport, all you would come up with is, ‘What the f*** is this guy thinking?’ Everybody I’ve fought is an animal, then you’ve got this clown. I’m excited to go teach him a lesson, to be honest with you. [...] I think I could go in there drunk, hungover, whatever and still knock this guy out. I don’t think that’s being egotistical or crazy. What does he think he’s going to do? He’s going to have to stand in front of me and fight me.”
Once psychological warfare between two fighters escalates to this extent, an emotional cocktail of anger, anxiety, and fear can often spill over into heated pre-fight encounters. Nicholson is fully aware that these theatrics could ultimately lead to an unavoidable fight-week tension, giving Perez opportunities to seek out viral moments for additional promotion. In anticipation, “The Spartan” has prepared for such shenanigans through one clear and concise warning.
“It’s fun and games now, but if he puts his hands on me, I’m going to slap the s*** out of him in front of the whole world,” Nicholson said. “Don’t touch me. That’s all I’ve got to say to him. If you see this interview, keep your hands to yourself until it’s time to fight. If you touch me, I’m going to Power Slap your ass off the stage — and you’ll still have to fight me. That’s that.”
How Fear Impacts the Art of War
Combat athletes sometimes choose to hide behind an air of total confidence, projecting an image and brand where the words fear and pressure don’t exist, but beneath that exterior illusion, fear is almost always present. No matter the opponent, there’s simply a natural response to the impending danger and unpredictable nature of a professional fight. Even seasoned veterans like Nicholson know anything can happen inside the ring and that fear, while usually hidden under the disguise of a warrior, is a central force that brings meaning to preparation for true violence.
“To say that you’re not scared or that you don’t feel pressure, to me, shows a lack of intelligence,” Nicholson stated. “My experience has helped me control that to where it doesn’t make me anxious or bring out an adrenaline that makes you weak. I know that’s what [Perez] is going to be feeling, and that’s what is going to cost him. I’m able to control the chaos, be calculated, and execute my approach. It’s militant. It’s stoic. It’s not about how good you really are; it’s about how good you can be and perform that night. I’m ready to go out there and perform, and I know that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. He’s going to choke to death in front of everybody. That’s my confidence. There’s some pressure, but pressure makes f***ing diamonds.”
Nicholson on the Evolution of Mike Perry
Nicholson and Dirty Boxing Championship owner Mike Perry share a long-standing friendship that began in Florida, where they trained and rose through the MMA ranks together. Despite both having a long list of triumphs and setbacks, their bond remains strong with unwavering support, enduring challenges that have showcased loyalty from the streets to the cage, to now a rising promotion in Dirty Boxing.
“We used to drink Four Lokos and train on a tarp in the summer,” Nicholson recalled. “Anybody that wanted to come out and wrestle or fight, we would just go at it. It was just hard work, dedication. We believed in ourselves. Before we had the knowledge, we watched videos on YouTube and tried to figure it out. We were those kids running around wearing Tapout shirts, looking crazy as f*** and ready to fight anybody. It just worked out for us. It became our lives. Now we do it at the highest level. We have now for a decade.”
With a raw charisma and fan-friendly style, Perry’s transition to Dirty Boxing promoter has reflected his growing influence in combat sports and his ultimate desire to innovate. Leveraging popularity from the UFC and bare-knuckle boxing into DBX, Perry now strives for combat dominance beyond just his own ambitions as a fighter.
“I know he’s going to take care of the fighters, and I know he’s going to make sure it’s entertaining for the fans,” Nicholson said. “It’s a great idea. The way they set that ring up is beautiful. It’s different. I see Dirty Boxing doing big things. I like the fighters starting organizations and keeping it righteous, being true. I look forward to seeing where it goes. I’m very proud of Mike. He’s come a long way. I’m happy for him and his family.”
