Face-off footage has been released for the main card participants of the upcoming MVP promotion event scheduled for May 16. The event will feature three headline fights including a return bout between Ronda Rousey (12-2) and Gina Carano (7-1), marking both women's return to competition. Nate Diaz (21-13) will face Mike Perry (14-8) in another featured matchup. The card will also showcase Francis Ngannou (18-3) against Felipe Lins (18-5) in what appears to be Ngannou's continued work outside the UFC.
Face-off footage has dropped for the main card of the MVP promotion's May 16 event, giving fans a first look at three marquee matchups headlined by the return of Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
Rousey, nicknamed "Rowdy," holds a 12-2 record and is 39 years old. The American fighter out of Team Hayastan stands five-foot-seven with a 66-inch reach and competes in an orthodox stance. During her career she averaged an imposing 6.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, numbers that defined her as one of the most dominant grapplers in women's MMA history. The bout marks her return to competition.
Carano, nicknamed "Conviction," brings a 7-1 record into the fight at age 44. Also orthodox and representing Xtreme Couture, the five-foot-eight American was a trailblazer for women's MMA. She averaged 4.5 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, with a solid 1.24 takedowns per 15 minutes.
The card's second featured bout pairs Nate Diaz against Mike Perry. Diaz, the 41-year-old southpaw from Stockton, California, holds a 22-13 record for Cesar Gracie Fight Team. Standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, he lands 4.57 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded threat he carries into any fight.
Francis Ngannou rounds out the announced main card, squaring off with Felipe Lins in a heavyweight contest. The matchup continues Ngannou's competitive activity outside the UFC, and his appearance on an MVP card underscores the promotion's ambition in assembling recognizable names.
Why it matters
- Rousey vs. Carano is a rematch of significant historical weight in women's MMA, with both veterans returning after extended absences
- Diaz's verified record of 22-13 differs from the 21-13 cited in promotional materials, a detail worth noting as the event takes shape
- Ngannou's continued presence on non-UFC cards signals an active market for marquee heavyweights outside the sport's largest organization
