The heavyweight landscape is about to shift. Netflix has officially announced its foray into mixed martial arts with a blockbuster event at the Intuit Dome, featuring the return of the world’s most feared knockout artist, Francis Ngannou. Ngannou is set to face Brazilian powerhouse Philipe Lins in the co-main event of a historic night headlined by the legendary comeback of Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano.
Since departing the UFC in 2022 as its reigning heavyweight champion, Ngannou’s journey has taken him through high-profile boxing matches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as well as a dominant PFL debut in 2024. Now, the “Predator” says he is ready to reclaim his throne.
“Silence shouldn’t be mistaken for absence—it’s the sound of a predator closing the distance,” Ngannou said. “Stepping back into the cage isn’t just a return; it’s a reclamation.”
Philipe Lins enters this bout on a wave of momentum. Despite spending much of his recent career at light heavyweight (205 lbs), Lins is no stranger to the big boys. He famously captured the PFL heavyweight tournament title and a $1 million prize in 2018.
Lins will move back up to the 265-lb limit for this five-round clash, aiming to use his technical prowess to upset the Cameroonian giant. “To be part of the first MMA event on Netflix is going to be amazing,” Lins stated. “We’re going to make history.”
The Hexagon: A New Era of Action
In a departure from the traditional eight-sided Octagon, this event will introduce a hexagonal cage. The design is a calculated move by organizers to facilitate more engagement and higher knockout rates.
| Feature | Hexagon Cage | Octagon Cage |
| Corners | 6 | 8 |
| Strategy | Harder to “reset” or circle away | More space for lateral movement |
| Primary Goal | High-intensity action & KOs | Standard tactical MMA flow |
Event Details
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Date: Saturday, May 16
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Venue: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, CA
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Streaming: Live on Netflix
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Rules: Unified Rules of MMA (Five 5-minute rounds)
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Weight Limit: 265 lbs
MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian emphasized that adding Ngannou to the card creates “star power like never before seen in the sport,” marking May 16 as a pivotal moment for modern MMA.
The two heavyweights are scheduled to come face-to-face for the first time at a press conference tomorrow, March 10, at the Intuit Dome.
Credit: TalkSports
