Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey makes her long-awaited return to MMA this Saturday when she fights Gina Carano live on Netflix.
Rousey takes on Carano in the five-round women’s featherweight headliner, but MVP MMA’s first card on Netflix features 11 fights in total, with many former UFC fighters littered throughout.
Now, let’s take a deeper look at the card below and what fights you should watch for.
Ronda Rousey & Gina Carano Return After Long Layoffs
The main event between Rousey and Carano, two pioneers of women’s MMA, is the big draw on the card, and for good reason, as these are two superstars of the sport.
Rousey has not fought since 2016. She just turned 39 years old, but she is still one of the biggest names in MMA. She is a -650 favorite to win, and given her advantage in grappling, it makes sense.
As for Carano, she has not fought since 2009, so she is returning after a 17-year layoff for this fight at age 44. Still, she is a talented striker, so if she can keep this fight standing, she has a puncher’s chance. But that’s a big if.
Rousey has said that her return to MMA is a one-off fight, but perhaps if the night goes well, she could fight again on Netflix, perhaps in a rematch with longtime rival Holly Holm, potentially.
Nate Diaz Fights Mike Perry — Conor McGregor Next?
In the co-main event, we have Nate Diaz against Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout.
Both Diaz and Perry have talked about fighting Conor McGregor in the UFC in recent weeks. Diaz said the UFC wanted him to fight McGregor for his comeback, but he took this opportunity on Netflix for more money instead. Perry, meanwhile, has said he wants to get back to the UFC and is hoping a big win over Diaz will springboard him back to the Octagon and a fight with McGregor.
This is the best fight on the card, and the most competitive from an odds perspective. Perry is a -190 favorite, with Diaz a +165 underdog in what should be a war between two fan favorites.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Francis Ngannou & Junior dos Santos Return
Two former UFC heavyweight champions fight on this card, as Francis Ngannou takes on Philipe Lins, while Junior dos Santos battles Robelis Despaigne, another former UFC fighter.
Ngannou left the UFC four years ago and fought in PFL and in boxing since then, so it’s nice to see him back in a high-profile MMA fight. He battles another former UFC fighter in Lins, who looks to be outmatched here as Ngannou is a -1400 betting favorite.
As for dos Santos, he could be in tough here against Despaigne. At 42, he has seen better days, and Despaigne is a heavy hitter. But perhaps JDS will try to wrestle him, which could make the fight interesting. Still, Despaigne is a -350 favorite to win.
Top Prospect Salahdine Parnasse Makes US Debut
One fighter to really keep your eye on is top lightweight prospect Salahdine Parnasse, who makes his U.S. debut against Kenny Cross on the main card.
Parnasse is a former KSW lightweight champion who has a 22-2 pro MMA record. The 28-year-old Frenchman has been one of Europe’s top mixed martial artists for a decade, and he’ll finally show North American fans how good he is when he takes on Cross, a former Dana White’s Contender Series product.
Should Parnasse spectacularly win this fight, do not be surprised if he joins the UFC for his next fight. He is a -1800 favorite, the biggest betting favorite on the entire card.
Full Bout Order for MVP MMA on Netflix
Here is the full MVP MMA on Netflix card and bout order. The preliminary card begins at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card at 9 p.m. ET.
Main Card
- Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
- Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
- Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lines
- Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenny Cross
- Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
Preliminary Card
- Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
- Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta
- Jason Jackson vs. Jeff Creighton
- David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
- Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
- Chris Avila vs. Brandon Jenkins
What to Watch for at MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano on Netflix