Mike Perry made a violent return to MMA on Saturday night, overwhelming Nate Diaz for a second-round doctor stoppage at MVP MMA 1 inside Intuit Dome.
The welterweight clash delivered exactly what fans expected. Blood, pressure, and nonstop exchanges. Perry’s physicality and body work slowly broke Diaz down before cageside doctors stepped in after the second round.
Perry Starts Fast and Forces Diaz Into Chaos
Perry stormed forward as soon as the fight began. He threw looping power shots and immediately pressured Diaz against the cage. Diaz tried to slow the pace with clinch work and his trademark jab, but Perry punished him with elbows and knees whenever the distance closed.
Diaz attempted a throw from the clinch during the opening round and briefly put Perry on the mat. The former UFC fan favorite quickly attacked with submissions, forcing Perry to stay alert on the ground before scrambling free.
Back on his feet, Perry ripped hard punches to the body. Diaz reacted visibly to several of the shots but kept firing combinations behind his jab. As the round continued, cuts opened on both fighters and the pace never slowed. Perry closed the frame with more damaging elbows in tight.
By the end of the first five minutes, both men already looked exhausted and battered.
Watch the highlights here
Diaz Bleeds Heavily as Perry Takes Over
The second round opened with cleaner boxing exchanges. Diaz found success with straight punches and hooks, while Perry continued digging to the body and mixing in uppercuts.
Whenever the fight drifted into close range, Perry’s elbows became a major weapon. Diaz’s face was quickly covered in blood as the damage piled up. Even with Perry breathing heavily and carrying his hands low, Diaz could not stop the pressure.
Perry landed a hard right hand and followed it with a knee before dragging Diaz to the canvas. From top position, he connected with several clean strikes before allowing Diaz back to his feet.
Diaz appeared unsteady as the round continued. Perry kept marching forward and targeted the body again before dropping Diaz with a knee near the bell.
Between rounds, doctors were examining Diaz’s cuts. But ultimately, his corner decided to stop the fight, giving the fight to Mike Perry by TKO (just as we predicted). .
Immediately Calls Out Jake Paul for Rematch in MMA
Perry was respectful in the post fight interview. He willingly accepted a potential rematch, while also politely calling out Jake Paul. He told Ariel Helwani:
“I would do MMA against Jake Paul. I’ll MMA this motherf***er, I already beat that a– in boxing.”
Paul (who was dressed in what looked like pyjamas) was all class:
“I love you Mike, you’re a warrior, this is your night, your moment but we can run it.”