Francis Ngannou Will Face Philipe Lins on May 16 MVP Card, Changing Landscape
Francis Ngannou will return to mixed martial arts to face philipe lins in a five-round heavyweight co-main event on May 16 after the PFL announced it had parted ways with the fighter. Wednesday at 10: 30 a. m. ET — the matchup is Ngannou’s first MMA fight since October 2024 and follows his split from the PFL.
Philipe Lins Returns to Heavyweight Spotlight Against Ngannou
Philipe Lins is booked as Ngannou’s opponent for the co-main; Lins won the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament and has not competed as a heavyweight in nearly six years. Lins last fought as a light heavyweight in the UFC, compiling four straight wins from 2022 to 2024 before his release in March 2024.
Ngannou’s Split From the PFL and Boxing Detour
The PFL said, “The PFL has made the decision to part ways with Francis Ngannou, ” and added, “We wish him success in the next chapter of his combat sports career. ” Ngannou joined the PFL in 2023 but fought just once for the promotion in MMA, and he has not fought in MMA since October 2024.
During his time associated with the PFL, Ngannou also fought twice in boxing, bouts that were not organized by the promotion; those boxing matches included a near-upset of Tyson Fury and a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, events that substantially influenced Ngannou’s profile and earnings.
May 16 MVP Card Co-Main: Five Rounds Under Unified Rules
The MVP inaugural MMA card is set for Saturday, May 16 and will be headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, with Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins serving as the co-main. The heavyweight bout will be contested over five, five-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA using 4-ounce gloves and inside a hexagon cage.
Ngannou’s last MMA victory came in October 2024 when he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round to claim the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship; that result stands as his only MMA contest for the promotion after he also took on responsibilities overseeing PFL Africa expansion.
For his part, philipe lins steps back into heavyweight competition against one of the sport’s highest-profile names, a matchup that pairs Lins’ tournament pedigree from 2018 with Ngannou’s global boxing and MMA notoriety.
The MVP card is scheduled for Saturday, May 16; an ET start time for the event has not been announced and further details, including a full fight order and kickoff time, are expected ahead of the event.
