Ali Akbar Rosady
Combat sports icon Nate Diaz is set to make his highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts (MMA) for the first time since 2022, facing fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contender Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout. The high-profile matchup is slated for May 16, emanating from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and will stream live globally on Netflix. The announcement was made Monday by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), marking a significant expansion for the promotional company into the MMA landscape. This contest joins two other marquee fights on what MVP describes as "the most star-studded MMA fight card ever assembled," featuring the long-awaited clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, and a heavyweight showdown between Francis Ngannou and Philippe Lins.
Nate Diaz, 40, a proud native of Stockton, California, carries a professional MMA record of 21 wins and 13 losses. Renowned for his relentless pressure, volume striking, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prowess, Diaz has cultivated a legendary status within the sport through a career defined by fan-favorite performances and a defiant, unyielding persona. His last appearance in an MMA cage was at UFC 279 in September 2022, where he secured a fourth-round submission victory over Tony Ferguson, marking the final fight of his contract with the UFC. That win underscored his enduring capabilities, demonstrating his ability to finish high-level opponents even in the twilight of his career.
Since his departure from the UFC, Diaz has remained active in professional boxing, engaging in two high-profile contests. In August 2023, he made his boxing debut against Jake Paul, suffering a unanimous decision loss after a competitive ten-round affair. He subsequently returned to the boxing ring in June 2024, securing a narrow decision victory over former UFC opponent Jorge Masvidal. These boxing ventures have kept Diaz in the public eye and honed his striking, a crucial element as he transitions back to MMA.
Speaking on his return, Diaz expressed his enduring ambition: "Glad to be back in action. It’s time. 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 statement reflects his long-held belief in carving his own path within combat sports, often operating outside conventional promotional structures. His return under the MVP banner, an organization co-founded by Jake Paul, with whom Diaz has a recent boxing history, adds another layer of intrigue to his storied career.
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Across the cage, Mike Perry, 32, known as "The King of Violence," holds an MMA record of 14 wins and 8 losses. Perry departed the UFC in 2021 after a challenging period that saw him lose four of his last five fights within the organization. However, he has since experienced a significant career resurgence in the bare-knuckle boxing circuit, where he has become the reigning Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) "King of Violence" champion. Perry boasts an undefeated 6-0 record in bare-knuckle boxing, securing notable victories over former MMA stars such as Luke Rockhold, Michael "Venom" Page, and Eddie Alvarez. His aggressive, power-striking style and willingness to engage in brutal exchanges have made him a fan favorite in BKFC.
Like Diaz, Perry has also ventured into professional boxing, including a bout against Jake Paul in February 2024, where he was stopped in six rounds. His return to MMA under the MVP banner provides an opportunity to showcase his evolved striking and test his skills in a format that allows for grappling and ground fighting, elements largely absent from his recent bare-knuckle endeavors. Perry articulated his intentions with characteristic intensity: "’The King of Violence’ returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f—ing face. Saturday, May 16, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out." His comments signal an expectation of a high-octane, violent encounter, consistent with both fighters’ reputations.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-created in 2021 by former UFC executive Nakisa Bidarian and internet personality and boxer Jake Paul, has rapidly emerged as a disruptive force in the boxing promotional world. The company has focused on leveraging high-profile matchups, often involving celebrities or crossover athletes, to generate significant viewership. MVP has also made concerted efforts to build a deep roster of women’s boxing stars, contributing to increased visibility and opportunities within the sport. This venture into MMA represents a significant strategic expansion for the promotion, aiming to capitalize on the crossover appeal of major combat sports figures.
Nakisa Bidarian emphasized MVP’s ambitious vision for the May 16 event, 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." This claim highlights the promotional prowess and market reach MVP aims to achieve through its partnership with Netflix, which offers unparalleled global streaming access. Bidarian further fueled anticipation for the Diaz-Perry bout, 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 full card is designed to draw maximum attention, spearheaded by the long-awaited women’s MMA dream match between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. Rousey, a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and Olympic medalist in judo, revolutionized women’s MMA and became a global superstar during her dominant career. Carano, a pioneer of women’s MMA and a former Strikeforce contender, was one of the sport’s first mainstream female stars before transitioning to a successful acting career. Their hypothetical matchup has been a topic of discussion for over a decade, and its realization on this card signifies MVP’s commitment to delivering major, historic bouts.
Adding to the heavyweight appeal is the clash between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and Philippe Lins. Ngannou, known for his devastating knockout power, made headlines for his departure from the UFC and subsequent ventures into professional boxing, where he faced Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. This fight against Lins marks his return to MMA outside the UFC, a significant moment for the former undisputed champion. Lins, a Brazilian heavyweight with experience in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and UFC, will serve as a formidable opponent for Ngannou’s highly anticipated MMA comeback.
The decision to stream the event on Netflix is a pivotal aspect of MVP’s strategy. Netflix’s massive global subscriber base, estimated at over 270 million, provides an unprecedented platform for combat sports, potentially introducing MMA to a vast new audience beyond traditional pay-per-view models. This partnership underscores a growing trend of major streaming services investing in live sports content, aiming to diversify their offerings and attract new subscribers.
The welterweight contest between Diaz and Perry is expected to be a high-volume, striking-focused affair. Diaz’s southpaw stance, reach advantage, and relentless pace, coupled with his vaunted durability and submission skills, present a complex challenge. Perry, on the other hand, relies on raw power, aggressive forward pressure, and an iron will. His bare-knuckle experience has likely sharpened his boxing defense and power, but the reintroduction of kicks, takedowns, and ground fighting will test his adaptability. The five-round format favors Diaz’s legendary cardio, but Perry’s ability to inflict damage early could be a significant factor. The fight, set against the backdrop of an event featuring multiple generational talents, is poised to be a memorable addition to the combat sports calendar.
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