A historic combat sports event goes down on Netflix this weekend as Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) kicks off its maiden voyage into mixed martial arts.
Famous MMA stars of the past, present, and future will take to the world’s largest streaming platform to bottle the elite production quality that Paul’s boxing events have produced and translate them to a cage.
Saturday night’s co-main event will feature two former rabble-rousers in the UFC. Nate Diaz, a longtime rival of Conor McGregor and former “BMF” belt challenger, will square off with Bare Knuckle Fighting champion “Platinum” Mike Perry at 170 pounds. The fight is scheduled for five rounds.
Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry is expected to start around 10:30 p.m. EST on Netflix, depending on when the other main card fights conclude. Let's make a Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry prediction, breaking down each fight's chances of winning on Saturday night.
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Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry Prediction and Payouts for Netflix MVP MMA 1 Co-Main Event
Below are the payouts for who will win the fight via PrizePicks Team Picks. For example, a 2x means that result will pay out $200 on a $100 entry.
Nate Diaz: 2.38x payout; 4.54x to win by submission (1.16x No)
Mike Perry: 1.51x payout; 3.22x to win by decision (1.31x No)
Team Picks payouts are live at the time of writing and are subject to change. A lower payout multiplier signals a higher implied probability of that result based on user picks; a 1.5x payout is more likely than a 2x payout, which is more likely than a 4x payout, and so on.
Normally, Nate Diaz is must-see TV. I can’t remember a boring Mike Perry fight in any combat sport. Putting them together should be absolute cinema.
Stockton, California’s Diaz was a 13-8 journeyman before the performance of a lifetime on short notice against MMA’s biggest star, Conor McGregor. He tapped the Irishman in Round 2 to put his name on the map for good, losing minimal stock in a rematch loss by majority decision. Diaz went on to battle other promotional legends like Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, and Tony Ferguson.
Known for his elite, nonstop endurance, combination-heavy boxing, and nasty submission game, Diaz had just about every tool in his kit offensively. Unfortunately, he’d lose decisions relying too much on that Stockton toughness defensively in lieu of quality head movement.
Mike Perry’s presence in a fight of this profile is a bit more unlikely. Perry somewhat flamed out of UFC after a 7-8 record during a tumultuous time in his personal life — even having just his girlfriend corner him during an actual fight, which he won.
Perry’s re-emergence has come via Bare Knuckle Boxing, besting former MMA champions like Eddie Alvarez, Luke Rockhold, and Michael “Venom” Page in the ultra-violent format.
This one shapes up to be a striker’s delight between two of the sport’s truest gangsters. Pop some popcorn and enjoy the show.
How Nate Diaz Wins vs. Mike Perry at Netflix MVP MMA 1
Nate Diaz’s last MMA fight came in 2022, so he’s got a bit of a recent experience edge over Perry. Using it wisely by mixing the arts would probably benefit him.
He’s as durable as they come, suffering just three losses by early finish in 34 pro fights — and one was a doctor’s stoppage where he wanted to continue. However, leaning on that durability against a power puncher like Perry would not be wise.
Ultimately, Diaz needs forward pressure and a frantic pace to put Perry on his back foot and expose some of his limitations, just like Daniel Rodriguez and Tim Means did in the UFC during Perry’s last two fights. Platinum had an ugly striking differential of at least -60 in both fights.
Of course, Diaz’s jiu-jitsu earned him 10 UFC wins. Mixing it up with grappling would be wise since Perry hasn’t even faced that threat in MMA in over five years.
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How Mike Perry Wins vs. Nate Diaz at Netflix MVP MMA 1
Mike Perry has clearly tapped into a new level of striking since leaving UFC. He finished Alvarez, Rockhold, and Jeremy Stephens in BKFC, and MMA’s four-ounce gloves will feel like pillows compared to that promotion.
Diaz doesn’t always move his head, so Perry needs to enforce his power as the natural welterweight.
If the underdog does try to floor this fight, Perry needs his historically strong takedown defense to hold up, too. It was a solid 78% in the UFC.
Diaz vs. Perry Prediction for Netflix MVP MMA 1 Co-Main Event
The 34-year-old Mike Perry is still in the midst of a successful career in pro combat sports. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Nate Diaz is a bit more invested in the business side, most recently competing in boxing matches against Jake Paul. That commitment could be a huge factor in Saturday’s outcome.
Perry is the natural 170-pound striker with heavy hands, and he’ll undoubtedly do the most damage in what we believe will be a standup affair. Diaz’s game is endurance, but quietly, Perry has gone into the fifth round or later in consecutive BKFC fights. He’s not afraid of deep waters either.
Things could get very interesting if Diaz were in a position to potentially lock up a submission on the mat, but Perry’s career resurgence has a chance for its crowning moment if he’s able to defeat Diaz in dominant fashion with many eyes on this card.
Make your Diaz vs. Perry predicton on PrizePicks now before the fight begins
Make Your Diaz vs. Perry Picks on PrizePicks
MVP MMA 1’s main event goes down this Saturday from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Before the fight gets underway on Netflix, lock in your MMA predictions for the fight.
Head over to the PrizePicks app and pick More or Less on two or more fighter projections for Diaz vs. Perry, and lock in your Lineup to win real money on the fights if you're right.
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