Rousey vs. Carano Card Adds Another Former UFC Mega Star to May Event Nate Diaz and Mike Perry are set to return to mixed martial arts with a highly anticipated welterweight matchup scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The bout, part of a triple-headliner card, will stream on Netflix and feature Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Felipe Lins. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced the event, positioning it as a major milestone for the promotion. Diaz, who last competed in MMA at UFC 279 in September 2022, has not fought since submitting Tony Ferguson in the main event of that event. Following his departure from the UFC, Diaz transitioned to boxing, securing a decision victory over Jorge Masvidal before falling to Jake Paul. Perry, meanwhile, has been absent from MMA since April 2021, when he lost a decision to Daniel Rodriguez. Since then, Perry has dominated the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, going 6-0 and holding the King of Violence title. His return to MMA after four years marks a significant moment for the sport. Both fighters expressed excitement about the event. Diaz stated, “Glad to be back in action. It’s time. 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 added, “The King of Violence returns to MMA to elbow his opponent in the f*cking face. Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out.” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian emphasized the significance of the Diaz vs. Perry matchup, calling it a statement bout for the promotion.#los_angeles #most_valuable_promotions #intuit_dome #nate_diaz #mike_perry
Nate Diaz is set to make his MMA return after nearly four years, stepping into the octagon for the first time since his departure from the UFC in 2020. The former welterweight champion will face BKFC's Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight matchup as part of Most Valuable Promotions' (MVP) May 16 MMA event, which will stream on Netflix. The card will also feature the highly anticipated Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano showdown and Francis Ngannou's heavyweight clash against Philipe Lins, making it a triple-headliner for MVP's first MMA event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian highlighted the significance of the event, stating it aims to surpass previous records in MMA viewership. "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," Bidarian said. Diaz expressed his excitement for the return, emphasizing his intent to "set the bar again" and continue his legacy in combat sports. "Don't forget where this all came from," he added, hinting at his plans to remain active in the sport for the next decade. Perry, known as the "King of Violence," previously competed in the UFC until 2021 with a record of 14-8 before transitioning to bare knuckle fighting, where he has gone 6-0. His victories over high-profile opponents like Michael "Venom" Page, Jeremy Stephens, and Eddie Alvarez earned him the symbolic title. Perry also took a detour into boxing, where he was stopped by Jake Paul in July 2024. Despite that setback, he remains eager to return to MMA, declaring, "Saturday, May 16th, on Netflix, Nate Diaz is going lights out." The Diaz-Perry fight will take place under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage, with five five-minute rounds.#ronda_rousey #gina_carano #most_valuable_promotions #nate_diaz #mike_perry
Jake Paul faces a year out of boxing after second surgery on jaw following brutal Anthony Joshua KO Jake Paul is expected to miss at least a year of professional boxing after undergoing a second surgery on his fractured jaw, sustained during a controversial knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. The 29-year-old YouTuber, known for his high-risk ventures, stepped into the heavyweight division to challenge Joshua in December, despite his lack of experience in the weight class. The fight, held in Miami, ended in a dramatic fashion when Joshua’s powerful right hand shattered Paul’s jaw, forcing him to retire after just six rounds. Paul initially underwent surgery following the fight but required a second operation in late February, which has delayed his return to the ring. When asked about his timeline for resuming training, Paul stated, “Later this year. I got my second surgery recently. The doctors said like four, five, or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing.” This prognosis suggests a prolonged recovery period, with Paul likely unable to compete until late 2025 at the earliest. The fight with Joshua was initially intended to be a high-profile exhibition bout, but it quickly turned into a spectacle of controversy. Paul had originally planned to face Gervonta Davis in November, but Davis withdrew due to allegations of domestic abuse, leaving Paul scrambling for a replacement. Despite efforts to secure fighters like Francis Ngannou, who had previously lost to Joshua, the match with Joshua became inevitable. Ngannou, who had previously been approached as a potential replacement, declined the opportunity, citing personal reasons. However, the former UFC champion is set to return to the cage on May 16, facing Brazilian Philipe Lins in Los Angeles.#miami #jake_paul #anthony_joshua #most_valuable_promotions #tyson_fury
