Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Added to Rousey–Carano Card
Only days after parting ways with the Professional Fighters League, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou already has his next fight lined up. “The Predator” is set to face 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament winner Philipe Lins on the upcoming card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
Ngannou’s run with the PFL ultimately proved brief but memorable. The Cameroonian powerhouse fought just once for the promotion, but he made it count. In 2024, Ngannou demolished Renan Ferreira with a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes to capture the PFL Heavyweight Super Fight championship.
Despite his limited time inside the PFL SmartCage, Ngannou remained one of the most visible figures in combat sports. During his stint with the promotion, he stepped into the boxing ring twice against elite heavyweight competition. He first pushed lineal boxing champion Tyson Fury to a competitive decision in a fight that stunned the combat sports world. Months later, Ngannou returned to boxing but suffered a second-round knockout loss to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Beyond his fighting career, Ngannou also played a significant role in the global expansion of the PFL. He was instrumental in the creation and promotion of PFL Africa, a project designed to help grow mixed martial arts across the continent.
Standing across the cage from him will be a familiar name in PFL history. Lins captured the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament championship before later returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His second UFC run began with setbacks, dropping two fights at heavyweight, but the Brazilian revitalized his career after moving down to light heavyweight.
The shift paid off. Lins put together an impressive four-fight winning streak, most recently earning a unanimous decision victory over longtime UFC contender Ion Cutelaba.
Now 40 years old, the Brazilian veteran remains a dangerous finisher. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Lins has scored 14 career stoppages, with nine coming by knockout, highlighting the power he carries in his hands.
The matchup presents an intriguing clash between Ngannou’s devastating knockout ability and Lins’ well-rounded skill set as the two former PFL champions collide on what is shaping up to be a historic fight card. The first MMA event promoted by MVP and available on Netflix.
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