“Witness Sanctioned Murder”- Fans React as Francis Ngannou Joins Ronda Rousey’s Historic MMA Comeback Event

Fans have made their feelings clear regarding Francis Ngannou’s first MMA bout since his knockout victory over Renan Ferreira in October 2024.

“Witness Sanctioned Murder”- Fans React as Francis Ngannou Joins Ronda Rousey’s Historic MMA Comeback Event

Francis Ngannou will be fighting Philipe Lins (via X)

In Short
  • Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano's historic MMA matchup will stream globally on Netflix on May 16.
  • Francis Ngannou will compete against Philipe Lins as the co-main event on the same card.
  • Fans have mixed reactions, with some criticizing Ngannou's choice to leave UFC while others support the new competition for the promotion.

A few weeks ago, fans were stunned when a blockbuster matchup between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano was officially announced. The historic MMA showdown will stream globally on Netflix and be promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, the combat sports promotion founded by Jake Paul.

The event has already generated massive buzz across the MMA world. Adding to the excitement, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou confirmed that he will also compete on the same card in a featured MMA bout, just a few days after parting ways with PFL.

Ngannou is set to face Philipe Lins in a heavyweight clash scheduled as the co-main event of the historic Rousey vs. Carano card. The event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and will stream worldwide on May 16.

Moreover, the bout will mark Ngannou’s return to MMA following his most recent title victory over Renan Ferreira via TKO at PFL: Battle of the Giants back in October 2024. Before that win, the Cameroonian powerhouse had pursued a professional boxing career, stepping into the ring with elite heavyweights including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Before his move to boxing, Ngannou dominated the UFC heavyweight division and captured the championship with a decisive knockout victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260, cementing his legacy as one of the most feared knockout artists in the sport.

He later defended the championship against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 before leaving the promotion in January 2023 and exploring opportunities across boxing and other promotions. The fighter had a public fallout with UFC CEO Dana White, and many personal remarks were exchanged. While many believed that the fighter ruined his career, others supported Ngannou for standing up for himself. 

Ngannou is widely considered one of the most powerful punchers in combat sports history due to devastating knockout victories. His opponent, Philipe Lins, is a Brazilian veteran known for his durability, powerful striking, and experience across multiple organizations.

Lins previously competed in the UFC and several international promotions, building a respectable professional record while facing tough competition. However, the fighter hasn’t stepped into the cage in two years and is currently on a four-fight winning streak. He is currently at 205lbs, not heavyweight, a class he hasn’t competed in since June 2020.

The fighter is well known for his knockout power, something which can be handy against someone as vicious as Francis Ngannou. The matchup between Ngannou and Lins promises fireworks because both fighters prefer aggressive striking and possess legitimate knockout power. 

Fight fans react to Francis Ngannou’s latest MMA fight announcement 

For Francis Ngannou, the bout represents an important return to MMA after focusing primarily on high-profile boxing matches. Victory could reopen opportunities for massive fights and reaffirm Ngannou’s dominance among heavyweight fighters worldwide once again. On top of that, fans are excited to see his collaboration with Jake Paul, with whom he has shared a long-standing beef. 

Francis Ngannou winning the PFL belt
Francis Ngannou winning the PFL belt (via X)

For Lins, the fight is the biggest opportunity of his career, allowing him to defeat a global superstar. A win over Ngannou would dramatically elevate Lins’ reputation and potentially position him for major headline fights in the future.  Meanwhile, the event itself is historic because Ronda Rousey returns after nearly a decade away to fight Gina Carano. 

That main event symbolizes a clash between two pioneers who helped popularize women’s mixed martial arts globally. On top of that, the biggest names in the card have a history with Dana White, which makes it a direct competition for UFC. Nevertheless, here are the reactions from fight fans following the announcement of Francis Ngannou’s MMA return.

As expected, fans showed mixed reactions to Francis Ngannou’s MMA return against Philipe Lins. Many mentioned how the former heavyweight champion should be fighting the biggest heavyweight names, such as Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, etc. However, others praised Netflix for stepping up its game and giving fans such a great card.

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