Diaz vs. Perry Set for MMA Return on Netflix Tripleheader with Rousey-Carano & Ngannou-Lins
Nate Diaz will return to mixed martial arts competition for the first time in nearly four years, facing off against BKFC’s Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout on . The fight will headline a Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) event on Netflix, alongside Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou against Philipe Lins, creating a triple-header main event.
The announcement, confirmed by ESPN on , marks a significant return for Diaz, 40, who last competed in MMA at UFC 279 in September 2022, securing a victory over Tony Ferguson. Since then, Diaz has ventured into the world of boxing, facing Jake Paul in 2023 and Jorge Masvidal in 2024.
Diaz’s career has been defined by memorable victories over Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and a defining rivalry with Conor McGregor, whom he famously submitted in 2016. He also competed for the UFC’s symbolic ‘BMF’ title in 2019, losing to Masvidal. His return to the cage represents a continuation of a combat sports career that has spanned multiple disciplines and captivated a large fanbase.
“Glad to be 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 modern takeover again and again until the end of time.”
Perry, known as “Platinum,” transitioned to bare knuckle fighting after a UFC career that saw him compile a record of 14-8. He has found considerable success in BKFC, maintaining an undefeated 6-0 record with wins over notable opponents like Michael “Venom” Page, Jeremy Stephens, Luck Rockhold, and Eddie Alvarez, earning him the title of “King of Violence.” Perry also recently tested the boxing waters, facing Jake Paul in July 2024, where he was stopped in the sixth round.
“The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f–king face,” Perry declared. “Saturday, , on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.”
The fight will be conducted under Unified Rules of MMA within a hexagon-shaped cage, consisting of five five-minute rounds. This represents a shift from the squared circle of boxing and the bare-knuckle arena Perry has recently dominated, back to the more familiar format of mixed martial arts.
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, emphasized the significance of the 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 vs Perry to Rousey vs Carano and Ngannou vs Lins.” He further lauded Diaz as “the Real BMF” and positioned the matchup as a guaranteed “war from the first press conference all the way to the end.”
The addition of Diaz versus Perry elevates an already compelling card featuring the highly anticipated return of Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano, and the heavyweight clash between Francis Ngannou and Philipe Lins. Rousey, a former UFC champion and a pioneer in women’s MMA, will be stepping back into the cage after a prolonged absence, while Ngannou continues his transition to professional combat sports following his departure from the UFC.
Andreas Hale, a combat sports reporter for ESPN, joined the company in 2024 after serving as a senior writer and multimedia host for The Sporting News and DAZN. Hale’s extensive background includes work with BoxingScene, Sherdog, and The Ring, as well as regular appearances on Sirius XM. Before focusing on combat sports, Hale held leadership positions in music journalism, serving as editor-in-chief of HipHopDX and executive editor of music at BET. He has also contributed to Billboard, MTV, and The Grammys, and has produced documentaries featuring prominent athletes and musicians, including Gennadiy Golovkin, Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, Paul George, and Kendrick Lamar. He is a Las Vegas native and a member of both the Boxing Writers Association of America and the National Association of Black Journalists.