Ali Akbar Rosady
MMA legend Nate Diaz is officially set to make his highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts competition for the first time since 2022, facing fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout on May 16 in Los Angeles. The monumental event, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will emanate from the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome and stream live globally on Netflix, forming a historic tripleheader alongside the previously announced matchups of Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou taking on Philippe Lins.
The announcement marks a significant moment for combat sports, as Diaz, a revered figure known for his relentless fighting style and iconic persona, re-enters the MMA landscape after a period focused on professional boxing. His opponent, Mike Perry, has cultivated a formidable reputation in bare-knuckle boxing following his departure from the UFC, establishing himself as a brutal force with a penchant for high-octane violence. The pairing promises a visceral clash between two of the sport’s most durable and fan-favorite brawlers, setting the stage for what MVP aims to be one of the most-watched combat sports events in history.
"Glad to be back in action. It’s time," Nate Diaz stated following the announcement. The Stockton, California native, whose career spans over two decades, conveyed ambitious plans for his future in the sport. "Don’t forget where this all came from. I got plans on doing a lot more in the next 10 years, no matter where it is. Time to set the bar again, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time." Diaz, who turned 40 in April, maintains a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 13 losses, having consistently competed against the sport’s elite across multiple weight classes. His last MMA appearance was at UFC 279 in September 2022, where he secured a fourth-round submission victory over Tony Ferguson in the final bout of his UFC contract, marking his departure from the promotion as one of its most enduring and popular stars. Since then, Diaz transitioned to professional boxing, engaging in a high-profile decision loss to Jake Paul in August 2023, followed by a close, hard-fought decision win over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal in June 2024, further diversifying his combat sports portfolio.
Mike Perry, known colloquially as "Platinum" and currently the reigning Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) "King of Violence" champion, arrives with a professional MMA record of 14 wins and 8 losses. Perry’s career trajectory has seen a remarkable resurgence since his departure from the UFC in 2021, where he concluded his tenure with a record of four losses in his final five fights, facing a gauntlet of tough opponents including Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal, and Daniel Rodriguez. His transition to bare-knuckle boxing proved transformative, with Perry compiling an undefeated 6-0 record, securing notable victories over former MMA stars such as Michael "Venom" Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez. This string of dominant performances re-established Perry as a major draw and a legitimate threat in combat sports. Like Diaz, Perry also ventured into professional boxing, suffering a six-round stoppage loss to Jake Paul in February 2024.
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Perry expressed his characteristic intensity regarding the upcoming bout. "’The King of Violence’ returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f—ing face," Perry declared. "Saturday, May 16, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out." The matchup itself presents an intriguing stylistic clash. Diaz is renowned for his exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, relentless pace, iron chin, and high-volume boxing, often overwhelming opponents in later rounds. Perry, conversely, is a power-punching striker with significant knockout potential, a rugged demeanor, and a willingness to engage in brutal exchanges. Both fighters have built careers on their ability to absorb punishment and dish it out, suggesting a high-likelihood of a memorable, attrition-heavy contest in the welterweight division.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-created in 2021 by Jake Paul and former UFC executive Nakisa Bidarian, has rapidly positioned itself as a significant disruptor in the boxing promotional landscape. The company has been instrumental in staging some of the most-viewed boxing events in recent memory, including Paul’s bouts against Tommy Fury and Nate Diaz, and has made concerted efforts to cultivate a deep roster of women’s boxing stars. Their expansion into mixed martial arts with such an ambitious card signals a bold strategic move, leveraging the immense star power of its headliners to potentially set new benchmarks for viewership.
Nakisa Bidarian underscored the promotion’s aspirations, stating, "MVP delivered the most-viewed boxing event since the advent of cable, and now we’re set to break records again with the biggest viewership in MMA history with the addition of Diaz-Perry to Rousey-Carano and Ngannou-Lins." Bidarian further characterized the main event matchup, remarking, "Nate Diaz is the real BMF, and Mike Perry is the ‘King of Violence.’ This will be a war from the first press conference all the way to the end when one of them has their hand raised." The reference to "BMF" (Baddest Motherf***er) holds particular significance for Diaz, who famously contended for and lost the symbolic title to Jorge Masvidal in a high-profile UFC bout in 2019.
The undercard itself is packed with historical significance and contemporary heavyweight power. The co-main event features the long-anticipated clash between two pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. Rousey, an Olympic judo medalist, revolutionized women’s MMA as the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Champion, becoming a global superstar before transitioning to a successful career in professional wrestling with WWE. Her last professional MMA fight was in December 2016. Carano, often credited as one of the first major female stars in the sport, built a formidable reputation in promotions like EliteXC and Strikeforce, last competing in August 2009 against Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino before embarking on a successful acting career. The matchup between Rousey and Carano, two foundational figures whose paths never crossed during their prime, represents a unique generational dream fight that transcends mere competition, offering a glimpse into the origins of women’s MMA on a grand stage.
Adding further gravitas to the card is the heavyweight encounter between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and Philippe Lins. Ngannou, known for his devastating knockout power, departed the UFC in early 2023 as the reigning champion, seeking new opportunities in boxing and securing a groundbreaking deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He has since tested himself against elite professional boxers, going the distance with Tyson Fury in October 2023 and suffering a second-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March 2024. His return to MMA against Lins, a PFL Heavyweight Champion and a veteran with a professional record of 17 wins and 6 losses, marks a crucial moment in Ngannou’s combat sports journey, demonstrating his commitment to both boxing and MMA.
This ambitious tripleheader on Netflix not only highlights MVP’s aggressive expansion strategy but also underscores the evolving landscape of combat sports, where star power, cross-promotional matchups, and direct-to-consumer streaming platforms are redefining how major events are produced and consumed. The May 16 event promises a blend of established legends, resurgent forces, and historical matchups, aiming to captivate a global audience and leave an indelible mark on the annals of combat sports history.
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