Mike Perry stops a bloody Nate Diaz via corner stoppage
In Saturday's MVP MMA1: Rousey vs. Carano co-main event was a welterweight bout between Bare Knuckle Fight Championship's "King of Violence" Mike Perry and the creator of the UFC's BMF belt Nate Diaz.
It was both fighters' return to mixed martial arts. Perry last fought an MMA bout in April 2021. After leaving the UFC five years ago, Perry rejuvenated his career in bare-knuckle fighting. After losing to Jake Paul in a boxing match, Perry returned to BKFC to defeat Jeremy Stephens in his last outing.
Diaz was last in the cage in September 2022. After leaving the UFC, Diaz also tried his hand at boxing, losing to Jake Paul and defeating Jorge Masvidal in his last outing in July 2024.
Perry came out aggressive and landed a right hand. Diaz briefly clinched. Diaz connects with his jab. Perry connected with an elbow in the clinch followed by knees to the body. Diaz tossed Perry to the canvas. He stood over him and delivered punches. Diaz isolated a leg and went to his back. Perry got his leg free and stood. Perry inched forward and went to the body. Perry delivers a hard body shot that hurt Diaz. Diaz circled free. Perry again targeted the body. A left hand lands for Perry. Perry's left continued to find a home. Diaz responded with a double jab. Diaz connected with a combination. Diaz was cut around his right eye. Perry delivered a knee to the body. Diaz reacted with combination. They clinched and Perry landed an elbow. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Perry.
Diaz came out landing his jab in the second. Perry pressed forward. Perry landed to the body with a right hook. Diaz opted for a double jab. Diaz connected with a right hook. Perry landed an uppercut. Diaz clinched. Perry pressured Diaz. Diaz connected with a combination. Diaz began bleeding more. Perry clinched. They worked for position long the cage before separating. Diaz wiped the blood away from his eye. Perry pressed forward and landed a a knee. Diaz fell to his back. Perry delivered left hands. Perry let Diaz up with a minute remaining. Diaz landed a combination. Perry continued to target the body. Diaz was a bloody mess at the end of the round. Perry jumped in with a knee that knocked Diaz down at the final second. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Perry.
The doctor was called in to check Diaz' cut. He stopped the fight. Perry wins by TKO.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 11:31 PM.