In his first public reaction since suffering a loss to Mike Perry at the Intuit Dome, Nate Diaz has called for an immediate rematch, declaring it “hunting season” as he looks to rebound quickly from the cuts stoppage that ended his return fight. Posting on Instagram, the Stockton veteran made clear that inactivity and the recent defeat have only fuelled his desire to get back in the cage.
“Hunting season” and rematch demand
Diaz took to social media to reflect on his performance against Perry, acknowledging that a lack of opponents had hampered his activity in recent years. “I wasn’t happy with my inactivity, but a lack of opponents will do that,” he wrote, before congratulating Perry on the win and adding: “Now I’ve got a target. Hunting season. Take the m———– out.” The post featured the hashtag “rematch” alongside a target emoji placed over an image of the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, underlining his intent to meet “Platinum” Perry again.
During his post-fight interview, Diaz had already voiced his interest in facing Perry once more, a sentiment he reiterated in his Instagram statement. Despite admitting he “didn’t actually feel good at all” during the contest, he praised his own toughness while accepting the referee’s decision to halt the bout before the third round.
Perry’s response and rematch in the works
Shortly after Diaz’s Instagram call-out, Perry acknowledged the veteran’s toughness beneath Diaz’s post, commenting: “Yeah, good fight Nate. I was starting to get tired, man. Thank goodness they stopped it.” Sources close to the UFC have indicated that discussions for a rematch are already underway, with Jake Paul among those suggesting the bout be held in Sacramento. Neither promotion nor fighters have officially confirmed the date or venue, though the social media exchanges have only intensified calls for a swift sequel.
Medical suspension and recovery timeline
Following the defeat, Diaz was handed a 180-day medical suspension due to significant cuts and a possible fracture to a finger on his left hand—an injury he revealed occurred within seconds of the opening bell. Unless he secures clearance from a physician, the suspension will keep him on the sidelines well into the latter half of the year. Diaz has previously stated that he mistakenly focused too much on the injury during the fight, suggesting that mental distractions played a part in his performance.
Despite the medical layoff, the former BMF titleholder remains determined to maintain momentum in his comeback, emphasising that the rematch clause and his renewed activity are priorities as he seeks to rebuild following a lengthy hiatus from MMA competition.
With both fighters publicly expressing interest and rematch talks reportedly progressing behind the scenes, fans can anticipate an official announcement in the coming weeks, provided Diaz clears his medical hurdles first.
Nate Diaz lost to Mike Perry by cuts stoppage when the referee waved off the contest between the second and third rounds at the Intuit Dome.
Diaz posted on Instagram congratulating Perry, but also called for a rematch, writing “hunting season” and using the hashtag “rematch” alongside a target emoji on a photo of the Golden 1 Center.
While neither the UFC nor the fighters have officially confirmed a date, reports suggest a rematch is in the works, with both Diaz and Perry publicly expressing interest.
Following the fight, Diaz received a 180-day suspension due to cuts and a possible fracture in his left hand, which could be lifted early if he obtains medical clearance from a physician.