Published On: Mon, Mar 16th, 2026

Ex-UFC star Nate Diaz to return at Most Valuable Promotions 'Rousey vs. Carano'


It's been a while since Nate Diaz had an MMA fight. | Getty/UFC

Most Valuable Promotions is planning on making a serious impact with its first mixed martial arts event.

MVP announced on Monday that a five-round clash pitting Nate Diaz against Mike Perry has been added to its May 16 card at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Diaz vs. Perry will be contested at welterweight. The MVP card is headlined by a women’s featherweight tilt between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, while Francis Ngannou will square off against Philipe Lins in the evening’s co-main event. The card will be the first MMA event to be broadcast on Netflix.

"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," said MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian in a release. "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.”

Diaz will return to MMA for the first time since September 2022, when he ended his Octagon tenure with a fourth-round submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. The Stockton, California, native emerged as one of the sports biggest stars during his UFC tenure, thanks in large part to a pair of bouts against Conor McGregor. The 40-year-old has competed twice in boxing since leaving the UFC, dropping a unanimous verdict to Jake Paul in August 2023 before defeating Jorge Masvidal via majority decision in July 2024.

‘Time to Set the Bar Again’

"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 new takeover again and again until the end of time.”

Perry, 34, hasn’t fought in MMA since April 2021, when he lost a unanimous decision to Daniel Rodriguez in his final UFC appearance. “Platinum” went 7-8 in the UFC but has since found a home in BKFC, where he has become the organization’s top star. Perry is 6-0 in BKFC, capturing the “King of Violence” crown while defeating noteworthy names such as Jeremy Stephens, Thiago Alves, Eddie Alvarez, Luke Rockhold and Michael Page.

"The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f—ing face," Perry said "Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.”

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