Mike Perry takes credit for ‘snatching’ Nate Diaz fight from Conor McGregor

Mike Perry believes he can be credited for taking the Nate Diaz fight away from Conor McGregor.

Diaz had been in talks with UFC for a return to the promotion before settling on a one-fight deal with Most Valuable Promotions. UFC CEO Dana White said that Diaz was given an offer that he felt he couldn’t refuse, and there are no hard feelings.

Many felt the most obvious fight to book if Diaz were to return to UFC would’ve been a trilogy bout against McGregor. Instead, the Stockton native will meet Mike Perry on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on May 16.

During a media scrum following a pre-fight press conference, Perry said he can be thanked for swiping the Diaz trilogy from McGregor’s grasp (h/t MMAJunkie).

“It feels great; I kind of snatched that one from under McGregor,” Perry said. “I’ve been over there at bareknuckle getting all the fights while he’s been talking on the sidelines, not fighting anybody, trying to piggyback off my hard work. So the fact that I took out the trilogy. Nate didn’t want to fight a dangerous weakling like McGregor. He said he’s on one f*cking leg. He said he’s either out of the door or he’s going to revitalize his career by stepping back in there and beating on somebody. I’m not worried about that. I’m looking to beat Nate and then get all the opportunities that come with that.”

There has been some tension between Perry and McGregor. While “Platinum” has been known as the face of BKFC, McGregor, who has a partial ownership stake in the promotion, has threatened to fire Perry in the past. It’s led to a tumultuous relationship between Perry and BKFC that still doesn’t feel fully resolved.

Is Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry a better fight than the Conor McGregor trilogy? Share your opinion in the comments below.