03/16/26 12:40:00
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03/16 12:35 CDT Nate Diaz is returning to MMA for a bout with Mike Perry on the
Rousey-Carano undercard
Nate Diaz is returning to MMA for a bout with Mike Perry on the Rousey-Carano
undercard
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Nate Diaz will return to mixed martial arts for the first
time in nearly four years when he fights fellow brawler Mike Perry on the
undercard of Ronda Rousey's meeting with Gina Carano.
Most Valuable Promotions on Monday announced the latest addition to the Netflix
card scheduled for May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout is
scheduled for five rounds at the 170-pound welterweight limit.
Diaz, who turns 41 next month, hasn't fought in a cage since September 2022,
when he choked out Tony Ferguson in his final bout for the UFC. The California
native is best known for splitting two memorable fights against Conor McGregor
a decade ago in a rivalry that exponentially boosted both fighters' star power.
Diaz also took two big-money boxing matches in the past three years. He lost a
decision in 2023 to Jake Paul, the social media star-turned-boxer whose company
is promoting the Rousey-Carano show, before beating his former UFC rival, Jorge
Masvidal, in 2024.
"Glad to be back in action. It's time," Diaz said. "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."
The 34-year-old Perry fought for the UFC until 2021, establishing a reputation
for exciting bouts and troubled behavior outside the cage. He also lost a
boxing match to Paul, getting stopped by the YouTuber in July 2024.
After losing seven of his final 10 fights for the UFC, Perry has since made a
successful move into bare-knuckle boxing, where he is 6-0. His MMA bout with
Diaz will be his first time in a cage since 2021.
Diaz-Perry is the third bout announced for the first MMA show for Paul's
burgeoning promotional company, which is showcasing combat sports icons whose
fame far outstrips the current crop of relatively anonymous UFC champions.
Former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou is also fighting Brazil's Philipe
Lins in Inglewood.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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