Mike Perry wants to help bolster UFC 300.
UFC’s biggest event of all time only has five fights confirmed as the promotion’s first show of the year, UFC Vegas 84, approaches this weekend (Sat., Jan. 13, 2024). The mixed martial arts (MMA) community has gone into a frenzy of anticipation for the big fights expected to be added to the April 13, 2024 showcase. With former longtime UFC veteran, Nate Diaz, expressing interest in coming back earlier today (Thurs., Jan. 11, 2024), another Welterweight veteran, Perry, welcomes the dance.
Perry, 32, has been targeting a potential clash with the 38-year-old Diaz since late 2022, receiving no bites from the Stockton, California native. Life after UFC for Perry has seen him flourish as a bare-knuckle boxer, primarily making his name in Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) where he’s 4-0 (14-8 in MMA). Despite the current success he’s found, Perry is open to a mixed martial arts (MMA) return if it means he gets to fight Diaz He’s so willing to do so that he recently called up UFC CBO, Hunter Campbell, to pitch him the idea.
“Nate Diaz says there’s no one to fight on UFC 300,” Perry said to Campbell on the Overdogs Podcast (h/t MMA Junkie). “I’m saying me and Nate, y’all could bring me back for a little purse and then throw in the PPV points, and then we could have a great show for UFC 300.”
“I’ve got a better idea,” Campbell responded. “Why don’t you call f—king … why don’t your guys talk to f—king Nate and get him to go over and fight you there [in BKFC]?”
“I don’t think he wants to do the bare-knuckle thing,” Perry said. “He wants a better shot with the jiu-jitsu, and like the full game.”
Diaz has been teasing a return to MMA and UFC before he did today, but it’s not looking good for the super show if Campbell’s response is anything to go by (at least for a Perry match up). It doesn’t help that he’s also tied to a reportedly in-the-works boxing rematch against Jorge Masvidal.
The last UFC fight for Diaz was his fourth round guillotine win over Tony Ferguson in UFC 279’s main event in September 2022 (watch highlights). Diaz has since made his professional boxing debut, which he lost opposite Jake Paul via unanimous decision this past August 2023 (watch highlights).
Meanwhile, Perry, had a fruitful 2023 as he scored big second round technical knockout wins against former UFC champions, Luke Rockhold (watch highlights), and Eddie Alvarez (watch highlights).