MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano happens on May 16 in Los Angeles and will be shown on Netflix. Here are clean previews and predictions for the main card fights.
Main Event: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
Ronda Rousey returns from a long retirement to face Gina Carano. Rousey was a dominant UFC bantamweight champion who helped make women’s MMA popular. Her reign ended after knockout losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes. She has nine first-round submission finishes in her career and is known for judo throws and armbar submissions.
Carano was the first big star in women’s MMA. She went 7-1 in her active career and lost to Cris Cyborg in 2009. Carano is a steady Muay Thai striker with solid kicks but a limited ground game. She has been out of competition for 17 years and is 44 years old.
Prediction: Ronda Rousey to win by submission (armbar) in Round 1.
Co-Main and Heavyweights
Nate Diaz faces Mike Perry in a five-round co-main event. Diaz, 41, finished Tony Ferguson by submission in 2022 and later boxed Jake Paul (loss) and Jorge Masvidal (majority decision win). Diaz uses high-volume boxing and strong jiu-jitsu, with 12 career submission wins. Perry, 34, is a brawler who left the UFC and went 6-0 in bareknuckle bouts, beating names like Luke Rockhold and Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Prediction: Mike Perry to win by TKO in Round 2.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou fights Philipe Lins. Ngannou, 39, fought Tyson Fury in boxing, scored an early knockdown, then lost a split decision. He was KO’d by Anthony Joshua in 2024 and returned to MMA with a first-round KO in the PFL last year. Lins, 40, is on a four-fight winning streak and was a PFL tournament winner. Prediction: Francis Ngannou to win by KO in Round 1.
Other Main Card Fights
Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) takes on Kenneth Cross (17-4). Parnasse is 28 and recently TKO’d Marcin Held. He mixes boxing and kicks and has seven submission wins. Cross is durable with both strikes and submissions on his record, but all four of his losses are by submission. Prediction: Salahdine Parnasse to win by submission in Round 2.
Junior dos Santos returns after two years to face Robelis Despaigne. Dos Santos, 42, was a top UFC heavyweight with big wins in his prime. Despaigne, 37, is a former Olympic karate gold medalist and went 7-0 in Karate Combat. Despaigne has size and reach advantages. Prediction: Robelis Despaigne to win by TKO in Round 1.
| Fighter | Recent Result / Note |
|---|---|
| Ronda Rousey | Long retirement; former UFC bantamweight champion; known for armbar finishes. |
| Gina Carano | 7-1 career; last fought in 2009; lost to Cris Cyborg. |
| Nate Diaz | Submission win over Tony Ferguson (2022); boxing vs Jake Paul (loss) and Jorge Masvidal (win). |
| Mike Perry | Left UFC in 2021; 6-0 in bareknuckle; recent wins over Rockhold, Page, Alvarez. |
| Francis Ngannou | Boxed Tyson Fury (knockdown, split decision loss); KO’d by Anthony Joshua 2024; recent PFL 1st-round KO. |
| Philipe Lins | Four-fight win streak; former PFL tournament winner. |
| Salahdine Parnasse | 22-2; TKO win over Marcin Held in January. |
| Kenneth Cross | 17-4; all four losses by submission. |
| Junior dos Santos | 42; former UFC heavyweight champion; returns after two years. |
| Robelis Despaigne | 37; former Olympic karate gold medalist; 7-0 in Karate Combat. |
These picks are based on style matchups and recent form. Follow the live card on Netflix and coverage from UFCcoverage for results and updates.
