What happened
In comments highlighted by Ariel Helwani, Dustin Poirier said a fight against Nate Diaz is the one matchup that would bring him out of retirement. Poirier also said he does not think Diaz beats Mike Perry and suggested Diaz's durability is fading. Diaz is scheduled to face Perry in a five-round welterweight MMA bout on May 16 at Intuit Dome on Most Valuable Promotions' Netflix card.
Why it matters
The quote gives Diaz vs. Perry an added layer of stakes because Poirier is openly tying a comeback to Diaz's path after that fight. It also revives an unfinished UFC storyline: Poirier and Diaz were previously booked for UFC 230 in November 2018 before the matchup fell through.
The data edge
Upcoming fight: Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry on May 16, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles; five rounds at welterweight (170 pounds); streamed on Netflix via MVP. Search context lists Diaz at 22-13 and Perry at 14-8. Prior matchup context: Poirier vs. Diaz was scheduled for UFC 230 in November 2018 before cancellation. No verified odds movement surfaced in the available search results.
What to watch
Watch the Diaz-Perry result and any immediate post-fight callouts for Poirier. The next signal to monitor is whether Diaz or UFC decision-makers publicly engage the comeback scenario Poirier floated.