Mike Perry is no stranger to big fights outside of the UFC, but his next one might be the biggest payday of his entire career. The former UFC fighter will face Nate Diaz at the upcoming Netflix MMA event headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, and the card is already being billed as one of the most stacked shows outside the company in years.

For ‘Platinum,’ the opportunity isn’t just about the name value; it’s also about the money. Speaking about the fight, Mike Perry confirmed that his fight with Diaz will be the highest purse he has ever received in combat sports, despite his years of fighting in the UFC, BKFC, and boxing.

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “Next one’s always the best one, man. This is the next one.

“I’ve been saying that it’s locked in. I’ve been saying that for 20 years, I swear.”

Mike Perry said the moment feels like another step in his long journey that has taken him from the UFC to becoming one of the biggest names in bare-knuckle boxing. For him, every fight still feels like an opportunity to prove himself, which is why he regards each one as the most important.

“So, you know, next one’s the best one,” he added. “We always keep grinding, keep getting better, keep looking to be our best selves, and really show you guys what I can do.”

Mike Perry’s fight versus Diaz will be his first in MMA in several years, but he has remained active in combat sports, building a solid fanbase through BKFC and crossover matches.

Wins over well-known fighters and a boxing match with Jake Paul helped him stay relevant, and the Netflix card now allows him to compete on one of the biggest stages he has had since leaving the UFC.

Despite Francis Ngannou also set to appear at the same event and Ronda Rousey‘s comeback receiving most of the attention, ‘Platinum’ vs Nate Diaz has swiftly become one of the most talked-about fights on the card.

For Mike Perry, this moment is precisely what he’s been looking for since leaving the Octagon. As for his fighting future, Perry continues to weigh up his options.

Mike Perry believes there are several options ahead for his future

While Mike Perry considers the fight with Nate Diaz to be one of the biggest moments of his career, he insists he isn’t looking past it yet. With fighters switching between MMA, boxing, and bare-knuckle more than ever, the 34-year-old believes he has multiple choices based on what options come following the Netflix event.

“I guess there are options here, right?” he told Ariel Helwani. “With a victory, for me, depending on what MVP’s MMA is looking like.

“I’ve seen the stigma of what media has been talking about, and it’s some guys having freedom, and I happen to have, and Nate has, Francis Ngannou has. It’s a blessing.”

Mike Perry added that he plans to take things one fight at a time and concentrate on the opportunity in front of him. ‘Platinum’ sees the fight as a big moment in his career, and what happens next will be determined by how things unfold after the fight and what opportunities open up across combat sports.