Nate Diaz’s return to mixed martial arts has been confirmed, effectively ending speculation about a potential trilogy fight with Conor McGregor this summer. The American fighter will face fellow UFC veteran Mike Perry on 16 May as part of the undercard for Ronda Rousey’s return to the octagon after a decade-long hiatus. Rousey’s bout against Gina Carano marks a significant moment for women’s MMA, with both fighters competing for the first time since 2009 and 2016 respectively. The event, organized by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, also features a matchup between former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum and Philipe Lins. Diaz’s return to MMA will be his first fight since 2022, when he exited the UFC with a submission win over Tony Ferguson. The 40-year-old has since transitioned to boxing, outpointing Jorge Masvidal in 2024 after a loss to Paul in 2023. Perry, 34, also boxed Paul, suffering a stoppage defeat in 2024. Diaz expressed excitement about his comeback, stating, “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.” While fans may interpret his remarks as hinting at a potential UFC return, the timing of his upcoming fight makes a trilogy bout with McGregor this summer highly unlikely. McGregor, 37, is expected to headline a UFC event on 11 July during International Fight Week, following his absence from the UFC’s White House card on 14 June. The promotion’s decision to exclude McGregor from the White House event has sparked calls for a major fight for the Irishman, with a long-awaited trilogy against Diaz being a popular suggestion. However, such a matchup now appears improbable.#conor_mcgregor #ronda_rousey #gina_carano #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 to Return to Boxing Ring in Late 2026 or Early 2027 After Jaw Surgery Jake Paul has confirmed he will be sidelined from boxing competition for several months following a second jaw surgery after his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December. The YouTuber-turned-boxer revealed that his recovery timeline places his potential return to the ring in late 2026 or early 2027, as he continues to heal from the injury sustained during the fight. Paul, who suffered a fractured jaw in two places during his stoppage loss to Joshua in the sixth round of their December 19 matchup, underwent his first surgical procedure the day after the fight. A second operation was required in February as the injury progressed. Speaking at a news conference alongside Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, Paul provided an update on his recovery, stating, “The doctor said it will be four, five, or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing. That puts us maybe late this year or early next year for a fight.” The 28-year-old fighter, who previously competed at heavyweight, plans to return to a weight class he feels more comfortable in after the physical toll of his loss to Joshua. “Definitely will be a cruiserweight,” Paul said. “Joshua’s punches hurt way more than people in my weight class. That’s where I’m best at, for sure, and where I want to continue to climb in the rankings and make some statements.” Paul’s decision to shift to cruiserweight comes after his defeat at heavyweight, where he acknowledged the challenge of facing an opponent of Joshua’s caliber. The former social media personality has faced criticism for his boxing career, but he remains determined to rebuild his reputation through strategic competition.#las_vegas #jake_paul #anthony_joshua #ronda_rousey #gina_carano
