According to major media reports, Francis Ngannou has booked a fight after leaving the PFL. He will compete on the undercard of Ronda Rousey's return to mixed martial arts. Ronda Rousey will fight for the first time in 10 years on May 16, facing Gina Carano, who has not competed since 2009.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano will headline an event on Netflix organized by Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Francis Ngannou was confirmed to be leaving the PFL last week after three years and just one fight. He is set to face Philipe Lins next.
Philipe Lins is a former UFC fighter who held PFL gold. The fight between Francis Ngannou and Philipe Lins will take place at the Intuit Dome in California. Francis Ngannou's fight against Philipe Lins will be his first since he stopped Renan Ferreira in October 2024 to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight title.
Francis Ngannou is 39 years old with an 18-3 record and is widely regarded as the most-destructive puncher in the sport's history. He lost a controversial decision to Tyson Fury in October 2023 and suffered a brutal KO by Anthony Joshua in March 2024. Philipe Lins is 40 years old with an 18-5 record and is on a four-fight win streak.
He has not fought since his final UFC bout in March 2024. Francis Ngannou said, 'While the world was busy talking, I was busy evolving. 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. ' Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian said, '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.
' The specific terms of Francis Ngannou's partnership with MVP are unclear.