Nate Diaz-Mike Perry result: Fight stopped as Diaz sits in pool of own blood between rounds

If there’s one thing Nate Diaz has proven in his career, it’s that he will never back down from a fight. Even in a loss on Saturday night, that continued.

The southpaw, who last competed in MMA in 2022, returned for the undercard of Netflix’s Rousey vs. Carano bout, taking on “The King of Violence,” Mike Perry.

But Perry landed a ton of big shots over two rounds on Saturday night — and ultimately, following scenes of blood streaming down Diaz’s entire face and body, a doctor’s stoppage decided the fight.

Here’s a look at how Perry left Diaz bloodied in one of the main events on Saturday night.

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Nate Diaz-Mike Perry result

Perry vs. Diaz was about as active as expected, but Perry was laying it on a bit by Round 2 of 5.

A few quick combinations from Perry left Diaz quickly growing swollen in the face and with cuts on his head.

Once the one-minute mark of the second round approached, Diaz was leaking blood everywhere. It was on the back of his head, on his back, on Perry’s face and all over his forehead, but Diaz kept attempting to fight on.

When the two finally ended Round 2 and Diaz got an opportunity to get cleaned up, it initially appeared that he would try to continue the bout. But as those in his circle tried to stop the bleeding on his forehead, where he got a significant gash, the fight was called.

What is a cut stoppage?

A cut stoppage is when an MMA fight ends due to a ringside doctor ruling that a fighter’s laceration is too severe to continue the fight.

Nate Diaz history of cut stoppage

Saturday was not the first time that a significant cut prevented Diaz from finishing a fight.

In November 2019, Diaz’s fight with Jorge Masvidal ended via third-round TKO in a nontitle welterweight bout at UFC244 at Madison Square Garden.

Per ESPN, a ringside physician for the New York State Athletic Commission decided to wave the fight off between the third and fourth rounds because of a cut over Diaz’s right eye. The cut was “definitely leaking blood into Diaz’s right eye, but it did not appear to be significantly worse than cuts in fights other commissions have allowed to continue.”

Diaz also said at the time that he didn’t expect the decision.

“I didn’t think they were going to stop it,” he said, per ESPN. “I was getting ready to get started.”

Nate Diaz record

Diaz’s loss via TKO/corner stoppage on Saturday night dropped his career record to 22-13. 

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How old is Nate Diaz?

Diaz is 41 years old. He will turn 42 on Apr. 16, 2027.