Nate Diaz Chooses Netflix Fight Over UFC Return vs. Conor McGregor

MMA star explains why he took a bigger offer to fight Mike Perry on Netflix over a trilogy bout with McGregor in the UFC.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:40pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting an intense MMA fight between two shirtless fighters, with sharp, overlapping geometric planes capturing the raw energy and action of the bout.Nate Diaz's decision to fight Mike Perry on Netflix rather than Conor McGregor in the UFC reflects the growing influence of new MMA platforms and Diaz's desire to face the best fighters at their peak.Stockton Today

Despite getting a bigger offer from the UFC to fight rival Conor McGregor in a trilogy bout, MMA superstar Nate Diaz revealed he chose to fight Mike Perry at the debut Netflix MMA event instead. Diaz said the timing wasn't right for the McGregor fight, as he wanted to face the 'baddest motherf*cker' in Charles Oliveira, not someone like McGregor who is 'on his last dying leg.' Diaz sees an opportunity to fight the 'most violent motherf*cker' in Perry on the Netflix platform.

Why it matters

Diaz's decision to bypass a lucrative UFC return against McGregor in favor of a Netflix fight against Perry is a surprising move that highlights the growing influence of new MMA promotions and streaming platforms. It also suggests Diaz is more interested in facing the best fighters at their peak rather than settling old scores, even if it means turning down a bigger payday.

The details

Diaz said the UFC offered him a bigger contract to fight McGregor in a trilogy bout, but he wasn't interested in that matchup at this time. Diaz wanted to face Charles Oliveira, the current 'Baddest Motherf*cker' champion, instead of McGregor who he felt was 'on his last dying leg' after recent losses and injuries. Diaz saw an opportunity with Mike Perry, who has become a superstar in bare-knuckle boxing and the 'King of Violence' champion in that promotion. Diaz believes fighting Perry, who he calls the 'most violent motherf*cker around,' is a better fight for him right now than facing McGregor.

  • Diaz was offered a bigger contract to fight Conor McGregor in a trilogy bout by the UFC.
  • Diaz will fight Mike Perry at the debut Netflix MMA event on May 16, 2026.

The players

Nate Diaz

An MMA superstar who has fought in some of the biggest UFC fights in history, including two bouts against Conor McGregor.

Conor McGregor

A former UFC champion who has a long-standing feud with Diaz, having fought him twice before.

Mike Perry

A former UFC fighter who has become a superstar in bare-knuckle boxing, earning the 'King of Violence' title in that promotion.

Charles Oliveira

The current UFC 'Baddest Motherf*cker' champion, a title that Diaz himself inaugurated in 2019.

Dana White

The CEO of the UFC, who confirmed there were talks for Diaz to return to the promotion.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to go back to the UFC, yeah. I had bigger offers from the UFC than I got from these guys, but the offers, the opponents, weren't the right opponents. I believe that everything in this fight game, and in everything, is timing, and I think that if I would've gone to the UFC, I wouldn't be fighting the fighters that I wanted to be fighting.”

— Nate Diaz, MMA Fighter

“For instance, if I went back to the UFC, they wanted me to fight Conor McGregor right now. For me, Conor McGregor, pull up his record, I know this, but I'm thinking about it. Conor McGregor just f*cking lost to (Dustin) Poirier. He got knocked ofsssfdfvsf his ass. So Poirier knocks him out, and then he breaks his leg, which is horrible because Poirier is a sorry little b*tch.”

— Nate Diaz, MMA Fighter

“(UFC) like, 'Oh, we want to come back, and maybe later we do it.' I'm like, 'Ok, well, you know who's doing a good job, and it's the same closest amount offered for Mike Perry, who's the most f*cking violent motherf*cker around doing things like taking over businesses and running his own promotions. That sounds a lot more, I'm a lot more enthusiastic about getting up and running and training for this motherf*cker who's going to knock me out, or I'm going to knock his ass out and take who's the biggest dog and who's the best moether f*cker around.”

— Nate Diaz, MMA Fighter

What’s next

Diaz is expected to face Mike Perry at the debut Netflix MMA event on May 16, 2026. After that fight, he has expressed interest in pursuing a matchup with Charles Oliveira, the current UFC 'Baddest Motherf*cker' champion.

The takeaway

Nate Diaz's decision to bypass a lucrative UFC return against Conor McGregor in favor of a Netflix fight against Mike Perry highlights the growing influence of new MMA promotions and streaming platforms. It also suggests Diaz is more interested in facing the best fighters at their peak rather than settling old scores, even if it means turning down a bigger payday.