MVP MMA: Can Diaz Get a BMF Opportunity with Win Over Perry?

By
Gabriel Gonzalez
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Nate Diaz. Photo: Esther Lin/Most Valuable Promotions

Ahead of inaugural MMA event on Netflix we are breaking down the top storylines from the card. Today, Diaz looks to secure BMF opportunity.

Despite never winning the sterling silver belt, Nate Diaz remains forever tied to the Baddest Motherf*cker title that he coined back in 2019. MVP wasted no time two months ago cashing in on it, announcing the fight between Diaz and BKFC superstar Mike Perry for what they called the “real BMF title” after the UFC’s headliner for the belt left many unsatisfied with the action delivered.

The addition of Diaz serves multiple purposes. At the surface, he remains amongst the most popular fighters not under UFC contract and thus adds a ton of eyeballs to the festivities. He is also very much on brand with Ronda Rousey and Francis Ngannou as a fighter who suggested the grass could be greener on the other side of the Octagon.

That said, the UFC remains plenty amicable with the Stockton product and by his own admission was interested in having him fight for the promotion again. As he put it, the UFC was interested in having him fight Conor McGregor but Diaz stated it wasn’t what he sought at this stage of his career despite the lucrative payday attached. What Diaz did say he was interested in was fighting the likes of Charles Oliveira who currently holds the BMF title.

Saturday is a massive stage, the latest for Diaz who has experienced everything from fighting for the UFC title, to two super fights with McGregor, to even a lucrative boxing fight with the promoter for this upcoming fight: Jake Paul. But this event on Netflix comes at an opportune time. As the UFC continues to look to get the most of their new deal with Paramount, Diaz has a chance to reaffirm his standing as a star who can still deliver an electrifying performance and thus leverage more money at the negotiating table. He has the perfect dance partner to produce a sizzling result as bareknuckle fighting star Mike Perry always does his part to make his opponent engage in a war.

As in most businesses, money talks. The UFC appears poised to have Conor McGregor’s return be against Max Holloway. Charles Oliveira has split his pair of fights against the current UFC champion Ilia Topuria and upcoming title challenger Justin Gaethje. It would appear as of this writing that the targets that the UFC and Diaz have in mind are simply not aligned. But should Diaz perform well against Perry, it would be difficult not to imagine a scenario where the promotion doesn’t revisit the possibility of making several lucrative fights with Diaz. With the future schedule of MVP in the MMA business, it’s not out of the question that Diaz also sees a UFC return as the best option for the biggest paydays at this stage of his career.

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