Most Valuable Promotions, the upstart boxing promotion featuring Jake Paul, and the streaming giant are going all in on their first-ever MMA event. In addition to Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins, another massive bout has been added to the card:

Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry.

A look at the first-ever MMA event on Netflix right now:

👊 RONDA ROUSEY vs. GINA CARANO
👊 FRANCIS NGANNOU vs. PHILIPE LINS
👊 NATE DIAZ vs. MIKE PERRY

Buckle up 🔥#RouseyCarano
Saturday, May 16
LIVE on Netflix pic.twitter.com/tw8qyI6sjI

— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) March 16, 2026

Fight fans can now circle May 16 as the biggest MMA event of the year, with apologies to the UFC’s “Freedom 250” card. That card might have more meaning to certain divisions inside the UFC, but for name value, Netflix and MVP have knocked it out of the park.

Diaz (21-13 MMA) exited the UFC in 2022 off a win over Tony Ferguson, after butting heads with the promotion over a new contract. Instead, he fought out his existing deal, then made his way into boxing, where he defeated old BMF rival Jorge Masvidal before losing a big-money bout to Jake Paul.

That fight, which was co-promoted between MVP and Diaz’s own production company, likely set up the foundation for Diaz to work with Paul once again. The pair have long been a match-up fans wanted to see in MMA for the sheer novelty of it— but Perry, a fellow former UFC star, is unquestionably the more appropriate fight.

Perry (14-8), like Diaz, parted ways with the UFC a few years back, off a loss to Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez. He made his way into boxing, losing to Jake Paul but winning BKFC’s “King of Violence” title in the bare-knuckle realm (and going as far as defending it against Jeremy Stephens last October, improving to 6-0 as a bare-knuckle boxer).

Neither fighter has fought in MMA since exiting the UFC, which if nothing else puts them on even footing. And the trash talk alone in this one should be legendary.

Netflix’s first foray into MMA alongside MVP takes place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA on May 16, 2026.

The post Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry Added to Rousey-Carano Card appeared first on Cageside Press.

Although the Professional Fighters League announced the news on Friday, during Tuesday’s Rousey vs. Carano kick-off press conference, Ngannou revealed that the announcement “was just the news that came out on Friday.”

“I think that this was an ongoing process for a couple months. I think we’ve been in this position since probably January, that I found out I would not be having another fight in the PFL,” stated Ngannou. “So then I started to look for other options. Then right away, I mean two weeks ago, I was reached out to by Nikisa [Bidarian] to give me an offer.”

Ngannou fought just once for the PFL, after signing with the league in 2023. That was an October 2024 fight against Renan Ferreira, who Ngannou finished via knockout.

Part of the PFL’s problem booking Francis Ngannou, alongside the star’s boxing pursuits, was landing the right opponent. It seems Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, who signed Ngannou for the Rousey-Carano card in the co-main event slot on May 16, faced the same struggles.

“Originally it was a big name. I mean no disrespect to Philipe, Philipe Lins, which is even a more dangerous opponent, but originally it was Rico [Verhoeven, former GLORY kickboxing champ]. So he [Bidarian] called me, and was like ‘okay, what do you think about fighting Rico in MMA?’ I’m like ‘damn, that sounds good. I never thought about it, but I think it’s a good opportunity.'”

Of course, that’s not the fight that was put together in the end. Verhoeven instead took a fight in boxing, against Oleksandr Usyk. Ngannou meanwhile gets fellow PFL and UFC vet Philipe Lins.

“Long story short, [that was] on Friday two weeks ago. Then Rico gets signed for the Usyk fight, so that wasn’t an option. Then we were looking for a replacement, then Philipe came out as the best option.”

Asked why he was still competing at this stage of his career, Ngannou bristled. “I’m not done. What do you mean, at this stage of my career?” he questioned.

“I still enjoy this. I’m in a better shape than I’ve ever been, even while fighting. For the past nine months, I’ve been in the gym everyday just because I enjoy it,” explained Ngannou. “So far it’s still my job. Of course I do some stuff on the side, but this is my primary job. I just wake up, get excited to go to the gym, do what I want to do, then look around if I have a fight.”

“That’s also a privilege of being a free man. You go out there, do whatever pleases you, and then if there is an opportunity to fight, you fight. If there’s not, you do your business, do your living, and keep on moving.”

“The good thing is when you have to do it because you want to do it, because you like to do it. I think that’s when the real pleasure of fighting begins,” continued Ngannou. “You don’t feel like you’re obliged, you’re forced to fight, you have to. It’s better to fight when you want to fight, and that’s the position that I am in right now.”

Francis Ngannou expects that, in that position, he can continue to compete for a couple more years.

The post Francis Ngannou: MVP Originally Offered Rico Verhoeven appeared first on Cageside Press.