Ali Akbar Rosady
Los Angeles, CA – Combat sports icon Nate Diaz is set to make his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts, ending a four-year hiatus from the sport that launched him into superstardom. The Stockton native, known for his relentless pressure and unyielding spirit, has agreed to a five-round welterweight contest against fellow fan-favorite Mike Perry. The bout is scheduled for May 16, 2026, at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and will be a featured attraction on Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) inaugural MMA event, streaming live globally on Netflix.
The announcement, made by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions on Monday, confirms one of the most intriguing matchups in recent memory, pitting two of combat sports’ most unconventional and charismatic figures against each other. This high-stakes encounter will join an already historic fight card that includes the previously revealed mega-showdowns between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, and Francis Ngannou facing Philippe Lins, forming a triple-header designed to captivate a global audience.
Diaz, who turned 40 earlier this year, last competed in MMA in September 2022, securing a fourth-round submission victory over former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. That fight marked the conclusion of his long-standing contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he built a legendary career spanning over 15 years. His professional MMA record stands at 21 wins and 13 losses, punctuated by memorable victories over Conor McGregor, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone. Diaz’s reputation was forged on his iron chin, high-volume striking, and elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, consistently delivering Fight of the Night performances. Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz has ventured into professional boxing, participating in two high-profile bouts. In August 2023, he faced Jake Paul, suffering a unanimous decision loss in a contest that generated significant pay-per-view numbers. He rebounded in 2024 with a closely contested decision victory over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal in a boxing match that drew considerable attention.
"Glad to be back in action. It’s time," Nate Diaz stated following the announcement. "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’s comments reflect his enduring ambition and a career-long dedication to combat sports, consistently pushing boundaries and challenging established norms. His return to MMA at 40 years old, a demographic often considered past their prime in professional fighting, underscores his unique physical resilience and mental fortitude. Historically, few fighters have maintained top-tier performance levels into their fifth decade, making Diaz’s comeback a testament to his exceptional conditioning and fighting spirit.
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Standing opposite Diaz will be Mike "Platinum" Perry, a fighter whose career trajectory has mirrored Diaz’s in its embrace of unconventional paths and fan engagement. Perry, with a professional MMA record of 14 wins and 8 losses, built a reputation in the UFC for his aggressive, brawling style and willingness to engage in thrilling, often chaotic, exchanges. After losing four of his final five bouts in the UFC, Perry departed the promotion in 2021. He subsequently found a new lease on his combat career in bare-knuckle boxing, joining Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) where he has achieved considerable success. Perry currently holds the BKFC "King of Violence" championship, boasting an undefeated 6-0 record in the organization. His notable bare-knuckle victories include wins over former UFC standouts like Luke Rockhold and Michael Page, showcasing his unyielding toughness and ability to thrive in a more raw fighting environment. Like Diaz, Perry also entered the boxing ring against Jake Paul in 2024, where he was stopped in six rounds.
"The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f—ing face," Mike Perry declared. "Saturday, May 16, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out." Perry’s characteristic pre-fight rhetoric sets the stage for what promises to be a high-intensity affair. The stylistic clash between Diaz’s volume striking, southpaw stance, and slick jiu-jitsu, against Perry’s powerful, forward-marching, and often unorthodox striking, is expected to deliver a memorable contest. Both fighters are known for their ability to absorb punishment and press the action, suggesting a bout that could unfold as a grueling war of attrition over five rounds.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded in 2021 by Jake Paul and former UFC executive Nakisa Bidarian, has rapidly established itself as a significant disruptor in the boxing promotional landscape. MVP has been instrumental in organizing high-profile crossover boxing events, featuring celebrity matchups and a focus on drawing mainstream attention to combat sports. The promotion has also made concerted efforts to build a formidable roster of women’s boxing stars, signaling its ambition to cultivate talent across various combat disciplines. Their expansion into MMA with this debut event represents a bold strategic move, leveraging their proven model of attracting major talent and securing lucrative streaming partnerships.
Nakisa Bidarian, an instrumental figure in MVP’s rapid ascent, expressed his confidence in the event’s potential impact. "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. "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." Bidarian’s reference to Diaz as the "real BMF" alludes to the "Baddest Motherf***er" title fight Diaz famously competed in against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 in 2019, a fight that captured the essence of Diaz’s persona and fan appeal.
The May 16 event is being positioned as a landmark occasion for combat sports, not only for its star power but also for its streaming partnership with Netflix. This collaboration marks a significant moment for MMA, bringing a major combat sports event to a platform with over 260 million subscribers worldwide. This unprecedented level of accessibility has the potential to introduce mixed martial arts to a vast new audience, mirroring the success MVP has achieved in expanding the reach of boxing.
The undercard itself is replete with narratives that transcend conventional fight promotion. The co-main event features a long-anticipated clash between two pioneers of women’s MMA: Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. Rousey, a former UFC Bantamweight Champion and Olympic judoka, retired from MMA in 2016 after an unparalleled run of dominance, later transitioning to a successful career in professional wrestling with WWE. Carano, widely considered one of the sport’s first female superstars, made her mark in Strikeforce before retiring in 2009 to pursue acting. The prospect of these two legends finally meeting after years of speculation has ignited considerable fan interest.
Adding further gravitas to the card is the heavyweight showdown between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and Philippe Lins. Ngannou, after a high-profile departure from the UFC and subsequent ventures into professional boxing against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, makes his return to the MMA cage. His powerful striking and championship pedigree make any of his fights a must-watch event. Lins, a Brazilian veteran with a strong grappling background, will present a stern test for Ngannou’s comeback to the sport.
The collective star power and the unique streaming partnership with Netflix signify MVP’s aggressive strategy to redefine the landscape of combat sports. By bringing together a roster of household names from across MMA and boxing, and making the event available on a global streaming giant, MVP aims to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience and potentially set new benchmarks for audience engagement in the sport. The May 16 event at the Intuit Dome is poised to be a pivotal moment, shaping expectations for how major combat sports events are promoted and consumed in the years to come.
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