“Platinum” has a message.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) superstar Mike Perry is set to return to mixed martial arts (MMA) in two months
when he takes on former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Nate Diaz in a triple-headliner for MVP MMA 1.The event is scheduled to take place inside the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will stream exclusively on Netflix.
While the matchup may come as a surprise to some — given both fighters have spent recent years competing outside traditional MMA
— it’s undeniably an intriguing clash of two fan favorites known for their durability, volume, and willingness to engage in a brawl.
With just two months until fight night, Perry and Diaz have yet to share the stage for any promotional appearances, as the bout was only recently announced. Still, once the two veterans get in front of microphones, the war of words is expected to match their in-cage intensity.
For now, Perry has already fired the first shot.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, “Platinum” urged Diaz to take the matchup seriously — because he’s coming to do damage.
“[This fight] is an opportunity, and what’s the thing I have to say right now that makes a difference?” Perry said. “I can’t just say ‘f—k you,’ because we’re going to do that when we get into the cage — that’s the real ‘f—k you.’ So what needs to be said? F—king train hard, because I’m going to try to hurt you. I’m going to hurt you.”
Diaz has not competed in MMA since his exit from the UFC, instead stepping into the boxing ring in 2023 and 2024 against Jake Paul (watch highlights) and Jorge Masvidal. Notably, Diaz admitted he didn’t put in a full training camp ahead of his bout with Paul — something Perry clearly doesn’t expect to happen this time around.
As for Perry, he has remained far more active. In addition to his BKFC run — where he’s become one of the promotion’s biggest stars — “Platinum” has consistently competed year after year, dating back to his amateur days.
While neither man has fought in MMA in several years, their shared reputation for toughness and chaos makes this a compelling, fan-friendly matchup — even if it comes outside the traditional UFC umbrella.
At the moment, Perry has opened as the betting favorite, while Diaz has yet to publicly respond to the matchup.
