Nate Diaz might not be walking back into the UFC just yet, but Dana White is not sounding bitter about it.
After weeks of chatter about a possible Diaz return to the octagon, Diaz signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and is now set to fight former UFC welterweight Mike Perry on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The fight is expected to be part of a major card headlined by Ronda Rousey’s MMA return against Gina Carano.
Speaking at the UFC London post-fight news conference, White made it clear there is no bad blood.
“He came in and met with me a couple of weeks ago. We had a good time, and I think Nate just got an offer he couldn’t refuse,” White said. “I haven’t talked to him since then, but I’m happy for him.”
Diaz has not fought in MMA since submitting Tony Ferguson in September 2022 before parting ways with the UFC.
🚨 Dana White says he met with Nate Diaz to talk about a return to the UFC, but he “got an offer he couldn’t refuse” from MVP
“I’m happy for him.” pic.twitter.com/ZYcTsjNSA0
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 22, 2026
Is Nate Diaz vs. UFC still possible later?
White did not close the door when asked whether Diaz could still return to the UFC after this MVP run.
“I don’t know,” White said. “Let him do his thing. Let’s see how the fight plays out, and we’ll see what happens.”
That answer keeps things open, even if nothing is guaranteed.
Diaz remains one of the biggest needle-movers in combat sports. A win over Perry would likely crank up speculation about what comes next, whether that is another crossover event or a return to the UFC.
White publicly backing Diaz instead of taking shots is the real headline here. In this sport, keeping that relationship intact is usually step one if a comeback ever gets serious.
