Former MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will make his highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts on May 16 as part of MVP's inaugural card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
Ngannou will square off against Brazil's Philipe Lins at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with the event being streamed worldwide on Netflix.
The fight will be a professionally sanctioned heavyweight MMA bout consisting of five rounds that are five minutes each, with the fighters using 4-ounce gloves inside a hexagon cage, according to an MVP press release.
"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 a highest stage."
Ngannou, widely regarded as one of the most destructive power punchers in UFC history, enters the bout with a professional MMA record of 18-3.
Lins last fought in the UFC on March 9, 2024, defeating Ion Cutelaba by unanimous decision. The Brazilian owns an 18-5 professional MMA record.
The fight will be Ngannou's first since his contract with the Professional Fighters League expired on March 6.
