Francis Ngannou will make his fighting return on May 16, live on Netflix under the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) banner.
The former UFC heavyweight champion has been booked to face 40-year-old Brazilian Philipe Lins on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano.
Ngannou was released from his PFL contract on Friday after just one fight, but was announced on Monday as the latest addition to Jake Paul‘s MVP roster.
“While the world was busy talking, I was busy evolving,” Ngannou said.
“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 the highest stage.”
Valuable moves
Rousey vs Carano marks the first MMA event ever shown on Netflix.
The streaming giants have previously hosted three boxing shows promoted by MVP (Paul vs Mike Tyson, Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano III, and Paul vs Anthony Joshua).
Netflix also put on Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford in September and continues its journey in the sweet science with Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov next month.
Paul and fellow MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian have driven women’s boxing into a new light over the last four years and will now attempt to set a new precedent in the MMA world.
Francis Ngannou’s last five fights
- W – Renan Ferreira via first-round KO at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 2024 (MMA)
- L – Anthony Joshua via second-round KO Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 2024 (boxing)
- L – Tyson Fury via split-decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 2023 (boxing)
- W – Ciryl Gane via unanimous decision at UFC 270 in Anaheim, California, January 2022 (MMA)
- W – Stipe Miocic via second-round KO at UFC 260 in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2021 (MMA)
Ngannou, widely regarded as the greatest MMA heavyweight of all time, alongside Rousey, will no doubt strengthen the promotion’s ambitions.
When did Ngannou last fight?
Ngannou hasn’t fought since a first-round stoppage win against Renan Ferreira in his one and only PFL fight, for which he was paid monumental amounts.
The Cameroonian brutalised Ferreira, stopping his opponent with vicious ground and pound just three-and-a-half minutes into the bout.
Ngannou’s win over Ferreira marked his first MMA fight since leaving the UFC as the promotion’s heavyweight champion.
‘The Predator’ joined the UFC in 2015 and was unsuccessful in his first challenge to the heavyweight throne when he was outpointed by Stipe Miocic three years later.
Ngannou lost his next fight to Derrick Lewis but put his name back in championship conversations with four consecutive wins over the likes of Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.
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He was then rewarded a rematch against Miocic and knocked out the American at UFC 260 in March 2021 to become the new UFC heavyweight champion.
The 39-year-old defended the belt just once against Ciryl Gane 10 months later before he was cut from the promotion after a contract dispute with UFC CEO Dana White.
Ngannou then accepted a lucrative boxing match with Fury as a free agent, coming ever so close to upsetting ‘The Gypsy King’ in their October 2023 Saudi Arabia clash.
However, the Cameroonian lost a razor-thin decision to Fury and was knocked out cold by Joshua in his next boxing fight five months later.
He then defeated Ferreira and was rumoured to continue his endeavour in the sweet science, but is now set to return to MMA in just over two months.
Who is Philipe Lins?
Questions will be asked as to why Ngannou has been matched with a relatively unknown fighter in Lins.
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Lins, who fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida, at American Top Team, has fought at light heavyweight for the majority of his career.
He began his professional career 21 years ago on the regional scene in Rio Grande do Norte, where he went six fights unbeaten before signing for Bitetti Combat.
‘Monstro’ won his two fights with the Brazilia promotion and continued his undefeated streak at Bellator in 2014.
After claiming consecutive wins, Lins faced adversity for the first time in his journey when he was handed his first pro defeat against Kelly Anundson due to a knee injury at Bellator 122.
Although the Brazilian bounced back with a second-round stoppage win over Guilherme Viana, his run at light heavyweight ended with back-to-back defeats against Kleber Silva and current PFL heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.
Lins then moved up a division in 2018 and achieved his greatest career feat by defeating Josh Copeland in the PFL heavyweight tournament finale, earning the $1million grand prize.
The 40-year-old continued his spell at heavyweight when he signed for the UFC two years later, but lost his first two fights in the promotion to Tanner Boser and Andrei Arlovski.
Lins then moved back to 205lbs in 2022 and secured his first UFC win against Marcin Prachnio in April of the same year.
‘Monstro’ returned to the Octagon 10 months later and stopped former Jon Jones foe Ovince St. Preux before making it three in a row with a quick turnaround victory over Maxim Grishin.
Lins then scored a unanimous decision win over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299 in March 2024 – his last fight to date.
“To be part of the first MMA event on Netflix is going to be amazing. I’m excited – very, very, very excited,” Lins said.
“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.”
MVP is expected to announce more fights for the Netflix show soon.
