Know Your Fighter: Perry Smith

Full Name:
Perry James Smith

Age:
22

Where were you born:
Sydney

Where do you live:
Bondi Junction

Which gym do you train out of:
Igor MMA

Who are your coaches:
Igor Breakenback

What belts or rankings do you currently possess as a martial artist:
Amateur Australian MMA title

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up:
Started karate when I was younger, then kickboxing at age 14.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession:
I was kickboxing for a little bit and always wanted to fight, but something about MMA when I first started watching it clicked right away, and I wanted to pursue it professionally.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why:
I love our wrestling days and live rounds.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter:
My composure and determination.

How would you describe your fighting style:
Patient, smart and calculated—but when I need to, I can scrap.

What is your favourite sport and why:
Outside of MMA, I would say K-1 kickboxing.

Who is your favourite athlete:
Max Holloway

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete:
Max Holloway

What are your immediate and long term goals:
Immediate goal is to win this fight. My long term goal is to reach my full potential in this sport—but I don’t put too much focus on the future. I try to focus on the present.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect:
High-level MMA.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out:
My coach is telling me I’ll get the first-round knockout, so I’ll go with that.

A final message to any friends, family and supporters:
Thank you for everything up until now. I look forward to putting on display all the support I get by putting on a masterclass.

Instagram:
@perry.jamesprivate

Watch James Perry fight at Eternal MMA 98 on Saturday, September 13

Know Your Fighter: Perry Smith

Full Name:
Perry James Smith.

Age:
22.

Where were you born?
Sydney.

Where do you live?
Bondi, Sydney.

Which gym do you train out of?
Igor MMA.

Who are your coaches?
Igor Breakenback.

What belts or rankings do you currently hold as a martial artist?
Technically still a white belt, but I compete at blue belt level and above.

What sports or activities did you participate in growing up?
I did karate for a little while when I was younger and started training kickboxing at 14.

When did you begin to take MMA seriously as a hobby and then as a potential profession?
I took MMA seriously before I even started training it. I moved out of home — and out of the country — at 16 to pursue it. Up until then, I had only trained kickboxing.

Favourite aspect of training or favourite session of the week, and why?
Sparring — so I can punch Shai Krimotat in the head.

What are your greatest strengths as an athlete or a fighter?
Even when things aren’t going well, I stay composed and find a way out. I don’t get overwhelmed, and I don’t get too excited when things are going my way either.

How would you describe your fighting style?
Bull in a china shop.

What is your favourite sport and why?
K-1 kickboxing — I love the exchanges and the combinations.

Who is your favourite athlete?
I wouldn’t say I have one favourite athlete.

Who is your favourite combat sports athlete?
There are a lot of guys I look up to and try to learn from — Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski are two of the main ones.

What are your immediate and long-term goals?
Immediate: win this fight and move on to the pro ranks.
Long-term: reach my full potential in this sport and become the best fighter I can be — wherever that takes me.

When fans see your name on a fight poster, what should they expect?
A cracker of a fight.

How do you see your upcoming fight playing out?
A cracker of a fight.

A final message to any friends, family, and supporters:
I’m in a place now where I’m truly grateful for the people around me. The support from my gym and everyone who helps me means so much — I feel it every step of the way.

Where can fans and supporters find you on social media?
Instagram: @perry.jamesprivate

Watch Perry Smith at Eternal MMA 95 on Saturday, May 3.