Two former UFC stars have been added to an upcoming blockbuster mixed martial arts card.
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry are set to compete in a five-round matchup in the 170-pound welterweight division on May 16 in Los Angeles, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix announced Monday.
The event at the Intuit Dome is set to be headlined by former UFC champion and Olympic bronze medallist Ronda Rousey facing women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano, plus former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou returning to action against Brazilian brawler Philippe Lins.
“Glad to be back in action,” Diaz said in an official press release. “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.”
Diaz was a star in the UFC from 2007 to 2022 but hasn’t fought in MMA since a submission win over Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 279.
The 40-year-old from Stockton, Calif., also has two professional boxing matches since his last MMA fight – one was a decision win over Jorge Masvidal and one was a decision loss to Jake Paul, the co-founder of MVP and the promoter of the May 16 event.
Diaz became one of the UFC’s top stars and was known for his multi-fight rivalry with Conor McGregor.
Perry didn’t have as much success as Diaz did in the UFC – Perry went 7-8 in 15 UFC appearances from 2016 to 2021 – but the 34-year-old from Michigan has found post-UFC success in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Rousey vs. Carano, Ngannou vs. Lins and Diaz vs. Perry are the only three fights currently announced for the upcoming event in California.