The upcoming blockbuster mixed martial arts event headlined by former UFC superstar Ronda Rousey and women’s combat sports pioneer Gina Carano has filled out its lineup.
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix announced Tuesday the addition of eight new matchups to the undercard of the May 16 event at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos and undefeated flyweight Muhammad Mokaev were among the notable names included.
Brazil’s Dos Santos will face fellow knockout artist Robelis Despaigne of Cuba in a heavyweight bout, while Mokaev will face former ONE titleholder Adriano Moraes, who's known best for upsetting Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson in 2021.
Dos Santos, 42, hasn’t competed in MMA since 2022 and hasn’t won an MMA fight since he stopped Derrick Lewis in 2019.
“I’m so excited to be fighting again. Fighting is my greatest motivation, the type of challenge that feeds my soul,” Dos Santos said in an official press release. “MVP is the type of promotion the fighting world was needing. The possibilities with them are endless, and that inspires the fighters to give the fans what they are wanting to see.”
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Mokaev is 15-0 with one no-contest in professional MMA with notable UFC wins over Manel Kape, Alex Perez, Tim Elliott and Charles Johnson, among others, prior to him parting ways with the organization in 2024. The UFC chose not to re-sign Mokaev two summers ago despite the fact that he is unbeaten and considered a future title challenger.
Former Bellator MMA welterweight champion Jason Jackson will face UFC, Bellator and PFL veteran Lorenz Larkin in a featured 170-pound bout.
Other matchups added were: Salahdine Parnasse vs. American Kenneth Cross, Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian, David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales, Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong, plus Chris Avila will round out the card against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
In addition to Rousey vs. Carano, the card also features lineal MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou returning to action against Brazil’s Philippe Lins and fan favourite Nate Diaz takes on bareknuckle boxing star Mike Perry.
Below is the projected bout order (subject to change):
— Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (five rounds)
— Francis Ngannou vs. Philippe Lins (five rounds)
— Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry (five rounds)
— Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross
— Junior Dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
— Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes
— Lorenz Larkin vs. Jason Jackson
— Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
— David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
— Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
— Chris Avila vs. TBD
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