Nate Diaz, now 41 years old, appears in fighting shape just 12 days before facing Mike Perry at an upcoming MVP league event. The event is scheduled for next weekend and will also feature the return of Francis Ngannou, along with bouts between Rousey and Carano, and Mokaev versus Moraes. Diaz's last MMA fight was in 2022 when he submitted Tony Ferguson. Since then, he competed in two boxing matches and did not compete at all in the previous year.
Nate Diaz has been spotted looking fight-ready less than two weeks out from his upcoming bout against Mike Perry at a Most Valuable Promotions event, with the card set to take place next weekend.
Diaz, 41, carries a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 13 losses and competes out of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team. The six-foot Stockton native fights out of a southpaw stance and owns a 76-inch reach. He averages 4.57 significant strikes landed per minute and attempts 1.3 submissions per 15 minutes, underlining his reputation as a dual threat on the feet and on the mat. His last MMA outing came in 2022, when he submitted Tony Ferguson. Since that win, Diaz has taken two boxing matches and had no competitive activity in the year prior to this bout.
His opponent, Mike Perry, is 34 years old and holds a record of 14 wins and 8 losses. Known as "Platinum," the five-foot-ten orthodox fighter has a 71-inch reach and currently trains independently. Perry lands 4.32 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 47 percent, making him a consistent pressure fighter with genuine knockout power.
Why it matters
- Diaz returns to MMA competition after an extended absence that included two boxing detours, making his conditioning and ring sharpness a significant question heading in.
- Perry has built his name under the MVP banner and a win over a figure as prominent as Diaz would cement his standing on that platform.
- The card also features Francis Ngannou's return, meaning the event carries considerable crossover attention beyond the core MMA audience.
- Both fighters land at high volume, setting up a potentially entertaining striking exchange given their contrasting stances and reach profiles.
