After a long layoff, the heavyweight king is back. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou returns to the cage this Saturday on the MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano main card, facing veteran Philipe Lins at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It's Ngannou's first fight since October 2024, and it marks his promotional debut with Most Valuable Promotions after parting ways with the PFL earlier this year.
But this isn't just any comeback—it's history in the making. The event will be the first MMA fight ever streamed live on Netflix, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already massive moment. And according to Ngannou's striking coach, Dewey Cooper, fans are about to witness something special.
"Everything is terrific, man. May 16th. We're super excited," Cooper said on MVP UNCUT. "I really feel it's a great incentive, it being the first mixed martial arts fight on Netflix. I think that puts the cherry on top for him psychologically because he's been training extremely well and we can't wait until fight night."
Cooper didn't stop there. He made a bold claim that will have fight fans talking: "Francis is undoubtedly the best heavyweight in the world." And he has the receipts to back it up. Ngannou is a two-organization world champion, having held titles in both the UFC and the Professional Fighters League. More importantly, he's never been dethroned—he never lost his belt in either promotion.
"He's a two-company world champion. He's never been dethroned. He's never lost his championship belt in two major organizations," Cooper emphasized. "He has a standard that he puts himself on."
As fight night approaches, the confidence in the Ngannou camp is sky-high. Cooper described his fighter's preparation as phenomenal, teasing that fans are in for a treat. "He looks phenomenal. We're excited about what he's going to show fight night. It's going to be something fantastic... He's on another level, guys."
For fans of combat sports, this is a must-watch moment. Ngannou has already proven he can dominate in two of the world's biggest MMA organizations. Now, on a historic Netflix broadcast, he has the chance to remind everyone why he's still the most feared heavyweight on the planet.