If you enjoyed his UFC on ESPN 12 win, Mike Perry thinks you’d love a fight between him and Nate Diaz.
In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday, Perry (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) was asked about a potential matchup against Diaz (20-12 MMA, 18-11 UFC). While Perry said he respects what Diaz has done in the sport, he didn’t seem impressed with the former UFC lightweight title challenger’s skillset.
“I think he’s a skinny, weak, little (expletive), like Mickey Gall,” Perry said. “I respect what he’s done in this sport. He plays the guard game, jiu-jitsu, and (expletive). He thinks he can box with (those) little weak-ass punches that he’s got – little salt and pepper punches. He doesn’t stand a chance to hit me hard enough.”
Analyzing a matchup against Diaz, Perry said he’d emulate a similar gameplan to what Jorge Masvidal implemented at UFC 244 in November. In the first (and to date, only) “BMF” title fight in UFC history, Masvidal defeated Diaz by TKO due to cuts.
“I’d hit him on the feet (the) same way Jorge Masvidal did,” Perry said. “I’d play his guard. I’d get half guard (and) sit on top of him. It’d look exactly the same way the Mickey Gall did, to be honest with you. If you guys liked that fight, then yeah, you’ll probably like the Nate Diaz fight, too because he’s a little more durable. He’ll probably try to stand there and box back with me, but my power punches (are) just – I’d sit him down.”
Diaz hasn’t competed since UFC 244. Since August 2016, Diaz has been booked three times fights and has only competed twice. Fights against Diaz are hard to come by.
A winner of three of his most recent four, Diaz has remained largely quiet since his loss to Masvidal, occasionally chiming in to talk trash on Twitter.
With his UFC on ESPN 12 victory, Perry snapped a two-fight losing skid. He is 3-3 in his past six fights dating back to July 2018.
Check out Perry’s comments on Nate Diaz in the video clip below (via Instagram):
