UFC Icon Francis Ngannou's Next MMA Fight Set for Rousey-Carano Card After Joining Jake Paul's MVP
After parting ways with the PFL on Friday, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou didn't take long to find his next challenge.
Per ESPN's Andreas Hale, Ngannou will make his return to MMA in a five-round heavyweight matchup against Philipe Lins as part of the May 16 event on Netflix that is headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.
This will be Ngannou's first MMA fight since his 2024 win against Renan Ferreira to earn the symbolic PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship. He was inactive for the entirety of 2025 before it was announced on Friday that he would be leaving PFL and be free to sign with another promotion right away.
"While the world was busy talking, I was busy evolving," Ngannou said in a release. "Silence shouldn't be mistaken for absence—it's the sound of a predator closing the distance. Stepping back into the cage isn't just a return; it's a reclamation. My return to MMA demanded a stage that matched the scale of my ambition, and partnering with MVP to bring this event to Netflix ensures the entire world is watching. I am ready for this new chapter, and I cannot wait to entertain my fans again and remind the world exactly who I am and what I am capable of delivering on a highest stage. #TheComeBack"
Known as "The Predator," Ngannou is one of the most devastating power punchers in MMA history. Out of his 18 career wins, 13 came by knockout, with seven happening within the first two minutes of the first round.
Interestingly, it was just a few months ago that Ngannou and Paul were adversaries, as Ngannou refused to be a replacement opponent for the YouTuber before his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Paul called out Ngannou for a future fight, saying the 39-year-old "kinda got no chin" and "is low-key soft." Now, he will be promoting Ngannou's return to MMA.
"Francis Ngannou is unequivocally the best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world and his addition creates star power on one card like never before seen in the sport," Paul and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said in a statement. "Francis is one of the most feared knockout artists the sport has ever seen, and his return to MMA instantly makes this a historic night. Philipe Lins is a proven champion who built his reputation the hard way against elite competition and knows this is his chance to cement his legacy on the sport and take Brazil back to the top of the sport. Two heavyweight knockout artists. Ngannou vs Lins. Rousey vs Carano. Five rounds each. The global spotlight of Netflix. Saturday, May 16, will be one of the most significant nights in modern MMA."
Lins is also a former PFL heavyweight champion and previously competed in Bellator MMA. He spent time in the UFC from 2020 to 2024, winning four of his six fights with the promotion.
MVP's inaugural showcase on May 16 will be the first MMA event ever streamed live on Netflix, and Ngannou's addition to the card will make it one of the most highly anticipated combat sports events of the year.
