Jake Paul’s combat sports promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, announced on March 16 that Nate Diaz will face Mike Perry in a welterweight bout on May 16. The fight will be added to MVP’s inaugural MMA event, which is headlined by the long-awaited return of Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano and airs live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
The addition of this bout further bolsters a card that already features the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who faces Philipe Lins.
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Nate Diaz during a fightMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Nate Diaz’s Return
Diaz, who turns 41 next month, returns to MMA competition for the first time since September 2022, when he submitted Tony Ferguson in his final UFC bout.
Since leaving the UFC, the Stockton native has ventured into boxing, dropping a decision to Jake Paul in 2023 before avenging a rivalry with a win over Jorge Masvidal in 2024.
“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” Diaz said in a statement 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.”
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Platinum Perry Stays Busy
For Mike Perry, the matchup represents not only a return to traditional MMA but also the biggest financial opportunity of his lengthy career.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JULY 20: Mike Perry reacts prior to their cruiserweight fight against Jake Paul at Amalie Arena on July 20, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Perry, the current BKFC “King of Violence” titleholder, confirmed that the fight has been in discussions for months, with negotiations solidifying after the UFC’s White House card was announced.
“I appreciate Nate for helping me get this matchup, and we’re going to clash,” Perry stated on The Ariel Helwani Show, adding that the payday is the best of his nearly 22-year career.
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Perry has wasted no time setting the tone for the buildup, issuing a warning to his opponent regarding the level of preparation required. Noting that Diaz previously admitted to not training fully for his boxing match against Jake Paul, Perry implored the Stockton native to take this bout seriously.
“Train hard, because I’m going to try to hurt you. I’m going to hurt you,” Perry said, emphasizing that the real animosity will be settled inside the cage.
Daniel Cormier and Din Thomas Give Their Takes
Despite neither fighter being ranked among the world’s elite welterweights, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier expressed genuine excitement for the matchup.
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Cormier noted that while the best technical fighters reside in the UFC, Diaz and Perry possess a rare ability to captivate an audience.
Daniel Cormier, Joe Rogan, and Jon AnikChris Unger-GettyImages
(Chris Unger-GettyImages)
“[These are] two guys that know how to engage an audience, and they know how to make people pay attention to what they’re doing,” Cormier remarked on his YouTube channel:
While the event represents a significant competitive threat to the UFC’s market dominance, Cormier cautioned fans against comparing it to the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House.
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“No chance, guys,” Cormier said, calling the UFC card the best of the year, though he admitted the Netflix event provides a legitimate alternative for fighters.
Din Thomas, a longtime MMA analyst and former UFC fighter, believes the Diaz-Perry matchup provides critical legitimacy to the MVP-Netflix venture.
“It legitimizes the card in a way, to the point where you go, ‘OK, it’s not just a circus,’” Thomas told MMA Junkie.
“The other fights are cool… but this legitimizes it in terms of OK, this is what some fight fans of the current day want to see because Mike Perry has been active.”
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Thomas noted that whenever a Diaz brother fights, fans will show up to watch.
With multiple high-profile bookings secured, Jake Paul’s promotional company is positioning itself as a genuine player in the combat sports landscape.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
