Perry halts Diaz at MVP MMA debut as promotion tests global viability
The face of BKFC dominates the return of Nate Diaz to mixed martial arts, marking a significant moment for the new Jake Paul-led organisation’s inaugural card.
Mike Perry secured a victory over Nate Diaz via doctor stoppage in the welterweight co-main event at MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano, held on Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The result, confirmed by a cut stoppage, concluded a bout that saw Perry, the prominent figure in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), assert control from the opening exchanges.
The event, which was streamed live on Netflix, marked the debut of the promotion led by Jake Paul and associates. Organisers aimed to leverage significant name recognition to establish the new entity as a credible contender in the global mixed martial arts market. The card also featured a headline bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, alongside a heavyweight contest between former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and Philipe Lins.
Perry entered the contest as a 2-to-1 favourite, priced at -180 on FanDuel, against Diaz, who was listed at +140. According to scores from MMA Fighting, Perry won the first round 10-8 and the second round 10-9. The bout was widely described as the “people’s main event” due to the fighters’ backgrounds and the competitive nature of the welterweight division.
Diaz, with a record of 21-13, returned to MMA after a period competing in boxing, including losses to Jake Paul and a victory over Jorge Masvidal in July 2024. He had not fought under MMA rules since submitting Tony Ferguson in September 2022. Perry, meanwhile, had ended his previous UFC run in 2021 on a 2-5 slump but has since compiled a perfect 6-0 record in BKFC, defeating former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Luke Rockhold.
The fight concluded with Diaz unable to continue due to cuts, leaving him bloodied by the end of the second round. Despite the loss in this MMA bout, Diaz remained undefeated under “Diaz rules,” a distinction noted as the fighter sought to prove his continued viability in combat sports following his hiatus from the mixed martial arts circuit.
