Mike Perry Batters Nate Diaz at MVP MMA 1: The King of Violence Returns to MMA
Five years away from MMA. Millions of viewers watching on Netflix. Nate Diaz in the opposite corner. Our client Mike “Platinum” Perry walked into all of it and walked out exactly as he came in. Dangerous, relentless, and impossible to stop.
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Perry returned to mixed martial arts in the co-main event of Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card, defeating Nate Diaz via second-round TKO at the 5:00 mark of round two. The win came on the biggest mainstream stage the sport has seen in years. Netflix’s first-ever MMA broadcast, available to the platform’s 325 million members worldwide at no additional cost.
The Return of Platinum
Context matters here. Perry’s last professional MMA bout was a loss to Daniel Rodriguez in April 2021. In the years that followed, he built one of the most remarkable post-UFC careers in combat sports history. He went 6-0 in BKFC, won the promotion’s symbolic King of Violence title after defeating Eddie Alvarez, then defended it in October 2025 by beating Jeremy Stephens. He became the face of bareknuckle fighting, but questions lingered about how that BKFC dominance would translate back to gloved MMA, with full grappling, against a genuine legend of the sport.
Round One: Perry Sets the Tone
Perry came out swinging from the opening bell, launching hooks and kicks at Diaz immediately. He attacked Diaz’s body relentlessly and landed heavy shots in close, mixing elbows and knees in the clinch. Diaz, for his part, showed why he is one of the sport’s most durable competitors. He attempted to stifle Perry’s momentum with a hip toss and took the fight to the canvas, threatening with submission attempts that put Perry briefly on the defensive.
But Perry refused to be controlled. He scrambled back to his feet, reset, and went straight back to the body. By the end of round one, Perry had dropped Diaz with a heavy knee to the face as the bell sounded. The tone was set. This was Platinum’s fight.
Round Two: The Finish
The second round opened as a boxing match, with Perry hunting the body while Diaz worked his jab and right hook. Perry found success with uppercuts and continued to pour on the pressure in the clinch with elbows. Then came the turning point. Perry opened a gushing cut on Diaz’s forehead that sent blood pouring onto the canvas.
Diaz was wobbling on his feet, his face a crimson mask, as Perry advanced forward methodically, hitting the body, then flooring Diaz with a knee right at the bell. When the doctor took a look at Diaz’s injuries between rounds, the corner made their decision. Diaz’s corner stopped the fight, handing Perry the TKO victory.
Perry had delivered relentless pressure, heavy hooks, crushing knees and vicious elbows throughout. Diaz, known throughout his career for surviving wars against elite UFC names, was simply overwhelmed by Perry’s raw aggression and physicality.
What’s Next: Jake Paul and a Rematch?
Perry wasted no time making noise after the final bell. He called out Jake Paul, who met each other in a boxing match two years earlier, this time challenging him to an MMA fight. Paul, quickly responded, fuelling immediate speculation about a crossover rematch under MMA rules.
Meanwhile, Diaz used his post-fight interview to demand a rematch, saying: “I think I broke my finger in the first two seconds. I was spending too much time worrying about that rather than focusing on the animal at hand. I’m gonna come back and get his ass.” Perry’s response was equally direct: “Next time, he ain’t gonna be able to do nothing.”
Either way, Saturday night proved that Mike Perry belongs on the biggest stages in combat sports and at 31 years old, his peak may still be ahead of him.
Mike Perry is managed by First Round Management. To learn more about our fighter representation and MMA management services, contact our team today.