Francis Ngannou is making a swift return to mixed martial arts, having quickly signed for his next bout just days after his release from the PFL. He is scheduled to compete on the highly anticipated undercard of the Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano event.
Despite a period of relative inactivity in MMA, “The Predator” remains a captivating figure, with fight announcements instantly grabbing fans’ attention. The Cameroonian powerhouse departed the UFC as its reigning heavyweight champion, relinquishing his title voluntarily to explore new career avenues. His journey subsequently included a stunning, albeit controversial, boxing debut against Tyson Fury, followed by his victorious promotional debut in the PFL, where he claimed the heavyweight Super Fights championship.
After more than a year without a scheduled MMA contest, Francis Ngannou has shifted his focus away from the PFL SmartCage. He confirmed his return via social media, announcing that he would face fellow UFC veteran Philipe Lins on the star-studded Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano undercard.
In a short video message, Ngannou confirmed the rumors: “Hey, guys. Rumors are true. I’m joining the Rousey vs. Carano MMA fight on Netflix. I’ll be entering the cage against, to fight Philipe Lins from Brazil.”
The upcoming clash is set for a five-round, five-minute duration, pitting two formidable knockout artists against each other. With a combined record of 30 finishes throughout their MMA careers, it’s highly probable that the judges’ scorecards won’t be required when these titans collide in May.
While his immediate focus will undoubtedly be on his next opponent, Francis Ngannou expressed that a victory over Philipe Lins could potentially pave the way for a future showdown with Jake Paul.
Ngannou further elaborated, “MVP is the promoter. So, who knows, maybe this means I’m one step closer [to] knocking out Jake Paul too. But first things first. Catch me on Saturday, May 16, on Rousey vs. Carano. Live only on Netflix.”
Philipe Lins also shared his thoughts after the announcement became public.
Lins stated, “I’ll be battling sports legend, Francis Ngannou, in Netflix’s first-ever MMA event, Rousey vs. Gina Carano, which will take place on May 16 on Saturday. Live and exclusive on Netflix. I want to invite all of you to honor this great event, historical event. Remember on May 16, on Saturday, and exclusively on Netflix. I could count on the support of all of you.”