Nate Diaz Returns to MMA vs. Mike Perry on May 16

Nate Diaz, the former UFC welterweight contender known for his gritty style and unfiltered persona, will return to mixed martial arts on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, facing fellow veteran Mike Perry in a featured bout on a Netflix-streamed card promoted by Most Valuable Promotions.

The 40-year-old Stockton native, who last competed in the UFC with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in September 2022, parted ways with the promotion after that event. Recent negotiations with the UFC offered him substantial financial incentives to return, but Diaz declined, citing a mismatch in desired opponents. He expressed interest in challenging Charles Oliveira for the promotion's BMF title, a belt Diaz helped conceptualize in 2019 before losing the inaugural fight to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244. Oliveira captured the strap last month by defeating Max Holloway via decision at UFC 326.

"I believe they wanted me to come back and fight Conor McGregor, not Oliveira," Diaz said during a recent appearance on the "This Past Weekend" podcast with Theo Von. "I'm going to fight for my belt that I created, that I deserved." Diaz recounted a past grievance with Oliveira, who rejected...