Ali Akbar Rosady
MMA legend Nate Diaz is set to make his highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts for the first time since 2022, agreeing to a five-round welterweight bout against fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competitor Mike Perry. The high-profile matchup is slated for Saturday, May 16, in Los Angeles, California, at the Intuit Dome, and will be streamed live on Netflix. The announcement was made by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) on Monday, positioning the fight as a key attraction on a landmark card that also features the long-awaited clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, alongside Francis Ngannou versus Philippe Lins.
The event marks MVPâs official foray into MMA promotion, aiming to deliver one of the most star-studded and highly viewed combat sports cards in history. The addition of Diaz-Perry injects significant fan interest and a raw, brawling dynamic into an already compelling lineup.
Nate Diaz, the 40-year-old native of Stockton, California, boasts a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 13 losses. Renowned for his relentless pressure, durable chin, and high-volume striking, coupled with an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Diaz has carved out a legacy as one of the sport’s most iconic and unconventional figures. His career began in the early 2000s, gaining significant traction after winning The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight tournament in 2007. Over the years, he became synonymous with gritty performances and memorable rivalries, most notably his two epic encounters with Conor McGregor in 2016, which shattered pay-per-view records and cemented his status as a mainstream combat sports star.
Diaz’s last appearance in an MMA cage was in September 2022 at UFC 279, where he secured a fourth-round submission victory over former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. That fight marked the culmination of his long-standing contract with the UFC, leading to speculation about his next career move. Following his departure from the UFC, Diaz ventured into professional boxing, maintaining an active combat sports schedule. In August 2023, he faced Jake Paul in a boxing match, losing via unanimous decision after a competitive ten-round affair. He continued his boxing journey in 2024, securing a close decision victory over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal in an exhibition boxing contest, further demonstrating his commitment to staying active across different disciplines.
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Commenting on his return to MMA, Diaz expressed his enduring ambition. "Glad to be back in action. It’s time," Diaz stated. "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." His statement underscores a determination to continue competing at the highest level, defying typical career timelines for athletes in contact sports.
Facing Diaz will be Mike "Platinum" Perry, a fighter who has similarly built a reputation for aggression and an uncompromising fighting style. Perry, with an MMA record of 14 wins and 8 losses, gained significant recognition during his tenure in the UFC from 2016 to 2021. Known for his powerful striking and willingness to engage in thrilling, often chaotic, exchanges, Perry amassed a 7-8 record within the promotion, securing notable victories over fighters like Paul Felder and Alex Oliveira. However, a challenging period saw him lose four of his last five UFC bouts before his departure in 2021.
Since leaving the UFC, Perry has experienced a significant career resurgence in the bare-knuckle boxing circuit, competing under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) banner. He has dominated the bare-knuckle scene, accumulating an undefeated record of 6-0 and earning the moniker "King of Violence." His string of impressive victories includes wins over former MMA standouts such as Michael "Venom" Page, Luke Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez, re-establishing him as a formidable force in combat sports. Perry also dipped his toes into professional boxing in 2024, suffering a six-round stoppage loss to Jake Paul.
Perry articulated his characteristic confidence and aggressive intentions for 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." His remarks highlight the expectation of a high-octane, brutal contest, aligning with both fighters’ reputations.
The event itself represents a significant strategic expansion for Most Valuable Promotions. Co-created in 2021 by former UFC executive Nakisa Bidarian and YouTube personality turned boxer Jake Paul, MVP has rapidly emerged as a disruptive force in the boxing promotional landscape. The company has been instrumental in staging high-profile boxing events, frequently featuring Paul in main event slots, and has been lauded for its efforts in cultivating a deep roster of women’s boxing stars. MVP’s strategic move into MMA promotion is a bold step, aiming to replicate its success in boxing by delivering an event that promises to captivate a global audience.
Nakisa Bidarian emphasized MVP’s ambitious vision for the card. "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 stated. He further fueled anticipation for the Diaz-Perry clash, adding, "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 "BMF" (Baddest Motherf***er) title is a nod to the symbolic belt Diaz fought for against Masvidal in the UFC, underscoring the perceived authenticity and toughness of both fighters.
The supporting bouts significantly bolster the card’s appeal. The long-dreamed-of clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano brings together two pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts. Rousey, a former UFC Bantamweight Champion, revolutionized women’s MMA with her dominant performances and mainstream appeal before transitioning to professional wrestling. Carano, a trailblazer in EliteXC and Strikeforce, was one of the sport’s first female superstars, making this matchup a historical "what if" scenario finally realized.
Furthermore, the heavyweight bout between Francis Ngannou and Philippe Lins adds another layer of intrigue. Ngannou, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, has recently garnered significant attention for his transition to professional boxing, where he notably challenged Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. His return to MMA against Lins, a PFL and former UFC competitor, signals a continued diverse combat career for "The Predator."
The combination of these high-profile matchups, featuring a mix of legendary figures, fan favorites, and compelling storylines, positions MVP’s debut MMA event as a potential game-changer in the combat sports industry. With the entire card streaming live on Netflix, MVP is leveraging the platform’s vast global reach to attract an unprecedented audience, potentially setting new benchmarks for MMA viewership and cementing its status as a major player across both boxing and mixed martial arts.
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