MMA News

Tag: Philipe Lins

  • Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Card Gets Elite Referee Crew For Top 3 Fights

    Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Card Gets Elite Referee Crew For Top 3 Fights

    Referee assignments have been finalized for the biggest fights on this weekend’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card, with several veteran officials set to oversee the action.

    The event takes place on Saturday, May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and streams live on Netflix. Headlining the card, Ronda Rousey faces Gina Carano in a historic featherweight bout marking both fighters’ long-awaited return to MMA.

    For the main event, legendary referee John McCarthy has been assigned to officiate the clash. Widely regarded as one of the most experienced officials in the sport, his involvement adds further weight to the high-profile matchup.

    In the co-main event, Nate Diaz squares off against Mike Perry, with Mike Beltran set to handle officiating duties. The bout brings together two of the sport’s most unpredictable personalities, both known for their durability and fan-friendly styles, making it one of the most anticipated fights on the card.

    Meanwhile, Francis Ngannou returns to MMA against Philipe Lins, with Herb Dean assigned to referee the contest. It marks Ngannou’s continued comeback following a difficult stretch that included a move into boxing and personal adversity outside the cage.

  • Francis Ngannou Admits He Wanted To Quit Fighting After 15-Month-Old Son’s Death

    Francis Ngannou Admits He Wanted To Quit Fighting After 15-Month-Old Son’s Death

    Francis Ngannou is set to return to action this weekend, but this fight carries a far deeper meaning than anything inside the cage.

    “The Predator” faces Philipe Lins on the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, streaming live on Netflix. It marks just his second outing since the devastating loss of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, in 2024.

    Speaking during an emotional interview with Daniel Cormier, the 39-year-old Cameroonian admitted the tragedy had completely altered his outlook on life.

    “You know, it is something you’d never forget, but it definitely brings you to see life in a different way,” Ngannou said. “It was a trigger to find out that I’m still sensitive and I’m still human.”

    The loss left him questioning everything, including his fighting career.

    “I did not want to keep fighting; there was no reason,” he said. “What’s the point of fighting if I cannot fight for my son?”

    “The Predator” also revealed how deeply the trauma continues to affect him, recalling a frightening moment involving his daughter.

    “I remember a few months after my son passed away, I was with my daughter and she had a cold,” Ngannou said. “At some point she stopped reacting and was getting fatigued, and it was the biggest fear of my life. It was a normal reaction for my kid, but for me, I was traumatized.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champion added that his final memory of his son still weighs heavily on him.

    “I think about the last time I saw him… he was crying because he did not want me to leave,” Ngannou said. “Those moments you take for granted.”

  • Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Official for May 16 Netflix Card

    Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins Official for May 16 Netflix Card

    Francis Ngannou is officially headed back to MMA. On Monday, it was confirmed that the former UFC heavyweight champion will take on Philipe Lins in a five-round heavyweight contest on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

    The bout joins the already announced Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano main event on a historic card that will stream live on Netflix. Per ESPN, Ngannou vs. Lins will serve as the co-main event for Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA show, listed on the official event graphic as a 5×5 professional MMA bout.

    For Ngannou, the fight marks his first MMA appearance since he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship in October 2024. He parted ways with the PFL earlier this month, making his landing spot on the May 16 card his first bout as a free agent.

    Lins enters the matchup with experience across the UFC, Bellator, and PFL. ESPN noted that the Brazilian won the 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament and previously put together a four-fight winning streak in the UFC from 2022 to 2024.

    According to ESPN, the contest will be contested under the Unified Rules of MMA inside a hexagon cage with 4-ounce gloves. With Ngannou now officially added, the May 16 lineup has become one of the most high-profile MMA events of 2026.