Diaz is feeling motivated on the heels of his first mixed
martial arts appearance in nearly four years.
The Stockton, California, native squared off against Mike Perry
in the
Most Valuable Promotions “Rousey vs. Carano” co-headliner,
losing via corner stoppage after two rounds on May 16 at the Intuit
Dome in Los Angeles. Diaz wasn’t especially competitive, as he was
bloodied and battered by Perry for as long as the contest lasted.
It was his first fight in MMA since a fourth-round submission win
over Tony
Ferguson at UFC 279 on Sept. 10, 2022.
Diaz
shut down retirement talk at the event’s post-fight press
conference, and the popular veteran maintained that sentiment while
expressing renewed enthusiasm for a Perry rematch in a recent
statement released via social media.
‘Hunting Season’
“I didn’t like my lack of activity because of lack of opponents,”
Diaz wrote on Instagram. “I know it was easier to get up to fight
me for this fight but now I believe it will be easier to fight
him.
“But all good shoutout to Mike on the win and getting me off my
ass. Time to kill now. I got something to do. Now I’ve got a
target. Hunting season. Take that motherf—-er out.”
It’s unclear when MVP might hold its next MMA event. The
promotion’s debut on Netflix was a
success in terms of ratings, both in the United States and
globally. A release from the company following the event expressed
optimism about the future of MVP MMA going forward. If there is
another event, a Diaz-Perry rematch could be one of the possible
bookings.