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Ngannou vs. Lins Added To
MVP's Rousey vs. Carano May 16
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.
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.
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