Who will Francis Ngannou fight next? Former UFC heavyweight champion set for MMA return at Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano Netflix event on May 16

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will make his return to mixed martial arts on May 16. The Cameroonian star is scheduled to face Brazilian veteran Philipe Lins in a five-round bout.

The fight will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and will stream live on Netflix. The contest will serve as the co-main event of a major card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano. The event is being promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the company co-founded by Jake Paul.Ngannou’s return comes shortly after news that he had parted ways with the Professional Fighters League. The heavyweight powerhouse had signed with the promotion in 2023 after leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship and vacating his world title.

Since then, Ngannou has fought only once in MMA. He defeated Renan Ferreira by knockout in October 2024 to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight belt. The upcoming bout will mark his first appearance since that victory.

Francis Ngannou returns to MMA with new promotion and high-profile event

The May 16 card will mark a historic moment for MMA. It will be the first time the sport is streamed live on Netflix. The event will be held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It will be headlined by the long-awaited clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

Ngannou will face former UFC fighter Philipe Lins in the co-main event. Lins has experience in both the UFC and the PFL SmartCage. The Brazilian last fought in March 2024. On that night he defeated Ion Cutelaba by unanimous decision at UFC 299 in Miami. That victory gave him four straight wins in the UFC. Despite the streak, the promotion did not renew his contract.Ngannou recently shared his thoughts about returning to MMA and joining the new event.

He said that while many people were discussing his future, he was quietly working on improving himself. According to him, his silence did not mean he had stepped away from the sport. Instead, he described it as the calm focus of a fighter preparing to strike.The former champion also explained that coming back to MMA represents more than just another fight. He said the moment feels like taking back what belongs to him. Ngannou added that he wanted a platform big enough to match his ambitions. Partnering with Most Valuable Promotions and streaming the event on Netflix, he said, will allow fans around the world to watch his comeback. The bout is scheduled for five rounds and is expected to be one of the biggest MMA attractions of the year.