MVP event on May 16 features Rousey vs Carano, Diaz vs Perry, Ngannou vs Lins

MVP Promotions has announced a stacked card for May 16 that brings back some of the most recognizable names in combat sports history, headlined by a heavyweight clash and two high-profile returns.

Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey, 39, steps back into competition against Gina "Conviction" Carano in what represents a comeback for both women. Rousey, who carries a 12-2 record and trains out of Team Hayastan, was a trailblazing UFC women's bantamweight champion whose dominance was built on an extraordinary grappling game. She averages 6.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and 4.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with a striking accuracy of 52 percent. Carano, now 44 and fighting out of Xtreme Couture, holds a 7-1 record and was one of the pioneers of women's MMA before stepping away from the sport. She lands 4.5 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy and adds 1.24 takedowns per 15 minutes to her game.

Nate Diaz, the 41-year-old Stockton southpaw, returns to face bare-knuckle standout Mike Perry. Diaz, a longtime UFC veteran training with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team, holds a 22-13 record and brings a six-foot frame with a 76-inch reach into the fight. He averages 4.57 significant strikes per minute and 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded threat he has always posed.

The heavyweight main event features former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who carries an 18-3 record, taking on Felipe Lins, who stands at 18-5.

Why it matters

• Rousey vs. Carano reunites two of the most important figures in women's MMA history, each returning from long absences
• Ngannou remains one of the most feared heavyweights in the world, and a win over Lins would reinforce his standing outside the UFC
• Diaz vs. Perry pits a submission-savvy veteran against a fighter forged in bare-knuckle competition, creating a compelling stylistic contrast
• The card signals MVP as a serious player in the current combat sports landscape