FRANCIS NGANNOU MAKES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN TO MMA VS. PHILIPE LINS ON MVP'S ROUSEY VS. CARANO, NGANNOU VS. LINS ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2026, FROM INTUIT DOME IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, LIVE GLOBALLY ONLY ON NETFLIX

Ngannou makes highly anticipated return to MMA vs. Brazil's Lins in 5x5:00 heavyweight professional MMA bout

Ngannou and Lins to join Rousey and Carano for a Kickoff Press Conference on Tuesday, March 10 at 12pm PT at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, hosted by Ariel Helwani.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, March 10 at 10am PT/1pm ET on Ticketmaster.com.

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix today announced that former MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (18-3, 4 Submissions, 13 KOs) vs. Brazil's Philipe Lins (18-5, 4 Submissions, 9 KOs) will face off in a colossal bout for MVP's Rousey vs. Carano, Ngannou vs. Lins, on Saturday, May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA, and streaming live globally, only on Netflix at no additional cost to its 325+ million members. The bout marks Ngannou's highly anticipated return to professional MMA competition following his crossover into global boxing events and his dominant PFL Championship victory in 2024. Ngannou vs. Lins will be a professionally-sanctioned heavyweight bout contested under the Unified Rules of MMA over five, 5-minute rounds using 4oz gloves, inside a hexagon cage. Ngannou vs. Lins joins a historic moment in combat sports as MVP's inaugural MMA event and Netflix's first-ever live MMA broadcast. The matchup pits two of the most dangerous knockout artists in MMA against one another, uniting former UFC world champion Francis Ngannou with 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament winner Philipe Lins in a clash of proven finishers whose combined 22 knockout victories have made them two of the most feared power punchers in the sport.

Tickets for Rousey vs. Carano and Ngannou vs. Lins will go on sale Tuesday, March 10 at 10am PT/1pm ET on Ticketmaster.com. The event will also feature the return of MVP's exclusive VIP experiences, including the MVP Owner's Experience(TM).

Ngannou and Lins will meet face-to-face at the Rousey vs. Carano Kickoff Press Conference on Tuesday, March 10 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The press conference will be hosted by renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani. All media interested in being credentialed to cover the press conference must apply HERE. The press conference will also live stream on Netflix's YouTube and MVP's YouTube.

Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian and French professional mixed martial artist and boxer. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ngannou - nicknamed "The Predator" - is widely regarded as one of the most devastating punchers in combat sports history. During his UFC career, he recorded seven knockouts within the first two minutes of the opening round, cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the heavyweight division. Ngannou has also been very influential in expanding opportunities for fighters in Africa, as he aims to help develop the next generation of African MMA talent by building pathways, resources, and global visibility for athletes from the region.

"While the world was busy talking, I was busy evolving," said Francis Ngannou. "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"

Philipe "Monstro" Lins is a Brazilian mixed martial artist training out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Lins began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 17 before transitioning into professional MMA in 2005. He gained international recognition during his run in Bellator MMA, where he competed from 2014 to 2017 against some of the promotion's top heavyweights. His career reached a major milestone in 2018, when he captured the PFL Heavyweight Championship, winning four fights in six months and earning the $1 million grand prize in the league's inaugural season. In 2020, Lins signed with the UFC, where he competed at heavyweight and light heavyweight, and has earned notable victories over respected opponents including Ion Cutelaba, Ovince Saint Preux, and Marcin Prachnio, solidifying his position as a dangerous contender in the division.

"To be part of the first MMA event on Netflix is going to be amazing. I'm excited - very, very, very excited," said Philipe Lins. "I'm very happy and grateful to God for giving me this opportunity and for being with the right people to take care of my MMA career. MVP, Netflix, and Dominance MMA made this happen. I'm very happy to be fighting on this card with so many legends. Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano, Francis Ngannou - we're going to make history, and to be a part of this moment is amazing to me."

"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," said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. "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."

The event is headlined by former UFC champion and Olympic medalist Ronda Rousey (12-2, 9 Submissions, 3 KOs) vs. combat sports trailblazer Gina Carano (7-1, 1 Submission, 3 KOs) in a featherweight bout at 145lbs contested over five, 5-minute rounds using 4oz gloves, inside a hexagon cage, as a professionally sanctioned bout under the Unified Rules of MMA. The matchup unites Rousey, the woman who shattered the glass ceiling for female fighters and became the face of an entire sport, male or female, with Carano, the sport's first true crossover star in a highly-anticipated fight that has been years in the making.

Additional information, including undercard bouts and full event details, will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @Netflix, on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @Netflix, or on Netflix's Tudum.

About Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian and French professional mixed martial artist and boxer. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Ngannou - nicknamed "The Predator" - is widely regarded as one of the most devastating punchers in combat sports history. During his UFC career, he recorded seven knockouts within the first two minutes of the opening round, cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the heavyweight division. Ngannou's journey to the top of the sport is defined by extraordinary perseverance. Born in Batié, Cameroon in 1986, he grew up in extreme poverty and worked in a sand mine as a child before pursuing his dream of becoming a professional fighter. His rise from those humble beginnings to the pinnacle of global MMA has made him one of the sport's most inspiring figures. Beyond competition, Ngannou is committed to using his platform to inspire others. His mission is to demonstrate that with perseverance, discipline, and self-belief, anyone can overcome adversity and achieve greatness. Through public speaking and community engagement, he shares his story as a testament to resilience and the power of never giving up on one's dreams. Ngannou is also focused on expanding opportunities for fighters across Africa as he aims to help develop the next generation of African MMA talent by building pathways, resources, and global visibility for athletes from the region. In addition, Ngannou gives back through the Francis Ngannou Foundation, which provides educational resources, sports programs, and vocational training for underprivileged children in Cameroon. Through these efforts, Ngannou continues to empower young people in his homeland to pursue their potential and build brighter futures.

About Philipe Lins

Philipe "Monstro" Lins is a Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's light heavyweight division and training out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. Known for his power, resilience, and well-rounded skill set, Lins has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous finishers. Born in Brazil on August 17, 1985, Lins began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 17 before transitioning into professional MMA in 2005. Lins gained international recognition during his run in Bellator MMA, where he competed from 2014 to 2017 against some of the promotion's top heavyweights. His career reached a major milestone in 2018, when he captured the Professional Fighters League Heavyweight Championship, winning four fights in six months and earning the $1 million grand prize in the league's inaugural season. In 2020, Lins signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). After initially competing at heavyweight, he moved down to the light heavyweight division, where his speed, power, and grappling have led to a resurgence in his career. Lins has earned notable victories over respected opponents including Ion Cutelaba, Ovince Saint Preux, and Marcin Prachnio, solidifying his position as a dangerous contender in the division. With a professional record of 18 wins and 5 losses, Lins is known for his finishing ability, combining knockout power with a strong submission game. Outside the cage, he is recognized for his discipline, strong work ethic, and deep faith, often crediting his beliefs and his team for keeping him focused throughout his career.

About Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) was founded in August 2021 by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian with a fighter first ethos. Since inception, MVP has produced 30 live boxing events and currently promotes nearly 60 fighters, 16 world champions, and 26 top contenders.

MVP has led boxing's evolution in the streaming era through partnerships with the world's leading platforms. In November 2024, MVP's Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2 was the first-ever live professional sports event streamed on Netflix. Paul vs. Tyson shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event of all time with 125 million live viewers worldwide. MVP went on to partner with Netflix twice in 2025 for MVP's Taylor vs. Serrano 3 and Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day.

Today, MVP is the global home of women's boxing. MVP's Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano in 2022 was the first female fight to headline Madison Square Garden, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 in 2024 saw 74 million viewers globally on Netflix and became the most-watched professional women's sports event in US history with 47 million AMA in the US. Their 2025 trilogy on Netflix topped an all-women's megacard that set the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS(TM) title for the most world championship belts ever contested on a single fight card, male or female, with 17 world titles, earning nearly 6 million viewers globally.

About Netflix:

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services offering TV series, films, games and live programming across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Intuit Dome

Intuit Dome, the home of the LA Clippers officially opened on August 15, 2024. In its first year, Intuit Dome has hosted over 100 live events and Clippers games and welcomed over one million fans. Located in Inglewood, Calif., Intuit Dome is built different and redefines fans' expectations for live experiences. To sign up to receive all Intuit Dome press releases and updates, email intuitdomepr@intuitdome.com and follow @IntuitDomePR.