Netflix has become one of the biggest talking points in combat sports, as numerous boxing events have taken place and more are ready to be viewed on the streaming service.
Some of the fight announcements from Netflix have been a surprise for 2026, including the return of Tyson Fury, who takes on Arslanbek Makhmudov, and the unexpected rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
However, it seems that Netflix are going one step further by showcasing its first live MMA event with the help of Jake Paul‘s business, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP).
On 16th May at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, this highly anticipated occasion takes place as two major names return.
Rousey is back from retirement after almost 10 years
Arguably the most recognised female fighter of Combat Sports returns to action, which has brought a lot of surprise and excitement from MMA fans.
The last time Ronda Rousey stepped in the Octagon was in December 2016, when her attempt to recapture the women’s bantamweight championship failed, as she lost by first-round TKO to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.
Following her title loss, ‘Rowdy’ retired from MMA and pursued a wrestling career in the WWE, winning multiple championships until calling it quits in 2023.
There are so many reasons why the 39-year-old has been praised as one of the greatest to do it as she’s produced so many iconic moments.
Rousey became the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion in 2012, successfully defending the title six times and headlining six PPV events for the organisation.
The Californian also became the first Olympic medallist to win a UFC championship, claiming a bronze medal in Judo at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.
Rousey’s fighting style made her stand out in MMA; she has never gone the distance, earning a 100% record with 12 victories, 11 of which ended in the first round.
What makes Rousey’s upcoming bout more shocking to realise is that her opponent has had a longer lay-off from the sport.
Gina Carano hasn’t been inside the Octagon since August 2009, when she suffered a first-round TKO loss to Cris Cyborg in Strikeforce, where her undefeated record came to an end.
Since then, she has become more of a movie and TV star, making appearances in: The Mandalorian, Fast and Furious Six and Deadpool.
Making a return to MMA after 16 years will really question if ‘Conviction’ has still got it, as the 43-year-old was the most recognised female fighter before Rousey began headlining events.
It’s an interesting main event which will see two women shake off their ring rust and build what could be the biggest fight in women’s mixed martial arts.
Ngannou returns to face an underwhelming opponent
‘The Predator’ is back shortly after being released by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) where he only had one fight, securing a first-round TKO win over Renan Ferreira in October 2024.
Prior to his PFL debut, Francis Ngannou challenged himself in the Boxing scene, where he came extremely close to beating Tyson Fury, losing by split decision, before a brutal second-round knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua.
The Cameroonian can happily say he’s never been knocked out in MMA, having lost only three times in his career while bagging 18 victories.
Before becoming a recognised fighter, the 39-year-old was actually more of a submission specialist, choking or tapping out three of his first five opponents in MMA before becoming the deadliest knockout artist as soon as he entered the UFC.
During his UFC stint, Ngannou earned 10 KO/TKO wins and gradually became a fan favourite due to his ridiculous punching power.
In 2017, the Batie-born fighter earned Knockout of the Year after brutally stopping Alistair Overeem with a vicious uppercut in the first round at UFC 218.
Surprisingly, it took 13 fights in the organisation for Ngannou to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship, knocking out Stipe Miocic in the second round at UFC 260.
While there is plenty of hype and anticipation for The Predator’s return, his opponent has very few accolades or qualities compared to the former UFC Champion.
Philipe Lins will be squaring off with Ngannou in May, and while he isn’t the most recognised name in combat sports, he has appeared on three of the biggest MMA promotions: UFC, PFL and Bellator.
The Brazilian has not fought since March 2024, when he increased his four-fight win streak with a unanimous decision win over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299, spending a longer lay-off than his opponent.
Despite having a positive run, ‘the UFC decided not to ‘Monstro’ was released from the UFC and has not competed since, potentially leaving the 40-year-old in a worrying position.
Lins may be at a disadvantage for this scheduled five-round battle as he’s used to competing as a light heavyweight, but will instead fight at heavyweight in Ngannou’s natural weight class.