Nakisa Bidarian makes Nate Diaz admission that keeps UFC comeback alive

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix

Nate Diaz signing with MVP for next Saturday’s Netflix card caught many fans off guard. He will fight Mike Perry in the promotion’s inaugural MMA card.

The 41-year-old had been linked with a UFC return, helped by his relationship with the promotion and talk around Conor McGregor and Charles Oliveira fights.

That made his Jake Paul promotion move intriguing, but Nakisa Bidarian has now suggested Diaz’s route back to the UFC is still alive, despite that not being what he would like.

Nakisa Bidarian says Nate Diaz only signed one-fight MVP deal

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

MVP co-founder Bidarian explained on The Ariel Helwani Show that Diaz was not simply convinced by money before agreeing to fight Perry.

“I think we offered less [than the UFC], but we gave him [Nate] flexibility,” he began by saying.

“Truthfully, it’s a one-fight deal, but we always believed that we’ll show him why we deserve to be his promoters.

“We feel great about how it’s gone with him and his team.”

That means Diaz is not locked into a long MVP agreement. If the UFC wants him after the Netflix card, the door could reopen quickly.

However, the 41-year-old will likely need a strong performance against Perry to make that comeback feel credible, marketable and worthwhile.

Nate Diaz has already hinted at UFC return

Diaz has already said he came close to rejoining the UFC, with McGregor discussed as a possible opponent before the MVP opportunity appeared.

He also made clear that Oliveira interests him, especially because the Brazilian currently holds a belt which Diaz has long wanted.