This is the Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry live blog for the welterweight co-main event at MVP MMA Rousey vs. Carano on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Diaz (21-13) has not competed in MMA since his last UFC fight in September 2022, when he submitted Tony Ferguson on his way out of the promotion that he called home for 15 years. He went on to compete in a pair of boxing matches, losing a decision to Jake Paul and then earning a measure of revenge over one-time “BMF” championship dance partner Jorge Masvidal in his most recent appearance in July 2024. The fan favorite looks to prove that he’s still undefeated under Diaz rules as he makes his comeback.
The face of BKFC, Perry has gone 6-0 for the bare-knuckle promotion, defeating former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Luke Rockhold, as well as MMA standouts Jeremy Stephens, Michael “Venom” Page, and Thiago Alves. Like Diaz, Perry hasn’t competed under MMA rules in some time, ending his UFC run in 2021 on a 2-5 slump. However, he’s been signed up to deliver what is sure to be a crowd-pleasing fight against Diaz.
Check out the MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano live blog for Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry below.
Preamble
It felt like Nate Diaz and Mike Perry crossing paths in some form of combat sports was inevitable, no? I’m glad it’s happening in MMA. Feels right.
Walkouts
Always tell me the odds
Close odds here with Mike Perry just short of being a 2-to-1 favorite at -180, per FanDuel. Nate Diaz the underdog at +140.
Round 1
Mike Beltran oversees the co-main event.
Perry just walks through a Diaz kick and tries to swarm him. He’s hunting for a finish early. Diaz stars pumping his jab in to break Perry’s pace. Short elbow inside from Perry, then a good clinch knee to the body. Diaz looks very sloppy in there.
Judo throw by Diaz! Impressive move, but Perry calmly works to top control. He’s posturing up and throwing punches, Diaz countering with submission attempts, they’re not really close. Perry slips out and he lets Diaz stand up. Smart.
Perry cracks Diaz with a body shot. He’s picking Diaz apart, punching to the head and body. Diaz answering with jabs, and he’s landing a lot. Perry just shrugging them off but Diaz is scoring. Perry headhunting with less success now. Diaz pushing him back, definite momentum shift with a minute to go in Round 1. Another good rip to the body by Perry, the attacks are coming slower now, though.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Perry.
Round 2
Diaz sticking that jab in Perry’s face and it’s working. He’s landing and making Perry miss. Perry smartly going to the body when he gets in close, but Diaz is landing more head strikes now. Perry with a good combination. They’re trading punches. Shocker: this is fun!
Both men bloodied as they’re battling at close range. Perry half-heartedly working for a choke, they’re laboring a bit now. Big shots from Perry as he just throws Diaz to the ground. Perry giving Diaz no room to work on the ground as he lands punches. He lets Diaz stand again and they go back to trading punches, Perry definitely getting the better of it this round. He’s picking his shots and he lands a big knee at the end of a round that sends Diaz stumbling back. A badly bloodied Diaz might have been saved by the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Perry. Overall, 20-17 Perry.
To little surprise, the doctors are calling for a stoppage and this one is over. Cut stoppage, I assume. Still undefeated under Diaz rules.