Nate Diaz, the former UFC champion, is making a highly anticipated return to MMA after nearly four years, facing Mike Perry in MVP's groundbreaking May 16 event at Intuit Dome Los Angeles. This triple-headliner features Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Philippe Lins, marking MVP's first major MMA show. Diaz, 40, last competed in September 2022, defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Since then, he transitioned to boxing, losing to Jake Paul in 2023 before defeating Jorge Masvidal in 2024.

His return signifies a major shift back to MMA's octagon. Perry, known as the 'King of Violence' in bare-knuckle boxing with a 6-0 record, brings a unique MMA background with a 14-8 UFC record before his 2021 departure. His success in BKFC earned him the symbolic title. The fight under Unified MMA rules will be a five-round welterweight showdown. MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian emphasized the event's historic scale, stating it will break MMA viewership records, building on MVP's record-breaking boxing events.

Diaz's comeback is framed as a return to his roots, with both fighters promising a brutal contest. 'Don't forget where this all came from,' Diaz declared, signaling a potential resurgence in his career. The May 16 event on Netflix represents a pivotal moment for MMA, blending star power with competitive stakes.