Francis Ngannou will make his return to MMA on May 16 against Brazil's Philipe Lins, following the end of his engagement with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The American MMA organization announced the termination of the contract signed in May 2023.
The PFL justified this decision by accusing the Cameroonian of not respecting his commitments, having only fought once in nearly three years, a first-round KO victory over Renan Ferreira in October 2024. The PFL stated that they have immense respect for Ngannou, wishing him success in the next stage of his career.
Ngannou, for his part, had left the UFC denouncing insufficient earnings, presenting his contract with PFL as more advantageous. However, his desire to earn even more money reportedly led him to prioritize a career in boxing, thus neglecting his contract with PFL.
The Ngannou-Lins fight will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on Netflix. This is an event organized by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), which will also feature a women's fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The Ngannou-Lins fight is scheduled for five five-minute rounds.
Lins, 40, is a former PFL champion who has also fought for Bellator and the UFC. He has a record of 18 wins and 5 losses. Ngannou said he is ready for this new chapter and eager to reunite with his fans, wishing to remind the world what he is capable of at the highest level.
Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, meanwhile, have stated that their meeting is the biggest fight possible in MMA, and they are both thrilled to end their long retirements for this long-awaited clash. Rousey stressed that there were no two people in the sport with greater international recognition than her and Carano.
This fight marks an important step for MVP and Netflix, following the success of their partnership in boxing. Netflix announced that the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight in November 2024 attracted 125 million viewers worldwide, becoming the most-watched sporting event in the platform's history.
