Eight fights added to Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano card including former UFC heavyweight champion

Junior dos Santos is returning to MMA to fight on Netflix’s blockbuster Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano card.

On Tuesday, Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced Brazil’s former UFC heavyweight champion will fight on Netflix’s first-ever MMA event, alongside a host of other stars.

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Francis Ngannou and Nate Diaz had already been confirmed to make their respective MMA returns for the card on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, and it is now even better.

Dos Santos has been booked to face Cuba’s Robelis Despaigne in a three-round heavyweight bout, while French former KSW double champion Salahdine Parnasse takes on Kenneth Cross at lightweight.

Flyweight great Muhammad Mokaev, who was cut from the UFC undefeated following built-up tension with matchmakers, is also on the card and faces ex-ONE 125lbs champion Adriano Moraes in a mouth-watering clash.

Also among the announced fights, Alex Pereira‘s younger sister Aline Pereira takes on Canadian Jade Masson-Wong, and Lorenz Larkin, a good friend and former training partner of Michael Bisping, battles fellow veteran Jason Jackson.

Rousey-Carano: Full Netflix card

Stacked

• MAIN EVENT: Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano – Women’s Featherweight
• Francis Ngannou vs Philipe Lins – Heavyweight
• Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry – Welterweight
• Salahdine Parnasse vs Kenny Cross – Lightweight
• Junior dos Santos vs Robelis Despaigne – Heavyweight
• Muhammad Mokaev vs Adriano Moraes – Flyweight
• Lorenz Larkin vs Jason Jackson – Welterweight
• Namo Fazil vs Jake Babian – Welterweight
• David Mgoyan vs Albert Morales – Featherweight
• Aline Pereira vs Jade Masson-Wong – Women’s Catchweight
• Chris Avila vs TBC – Catchweight

“I’m so excited to be fighting again,” dos Santos said.

“Fighting is my greatest motivation, the type of challenge that feeds my soul.

“MVP is the type of promotion the fighting world needed. The possibilities with them are endless, and that inspires the fighters to give the fans what they want to see.

“As always, Brazil and all ‘JDS’ fans around the world will be well represented on Saturday, May 16 live on Netflix. I can’t wait for it. Let’s go.”

Parnasse said: “I have nothing to prove to those who know me… but everything to prove to those who don’t know me yet.

“I’ve built my name in Europe, and now I have the opportunity to represent France on a global stage.

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“Being part of Netflix’s first MMA event makes it even more special.

“It’s a chance to showcase my skills, my journey, and everything I’ve worked for to a worldwide audience.

“I’m ready to show a new audience what I’m capable of and prove that I belong among the best in the world.”

Co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions Nakisa Bidarian and Paul added: “This card delivers on MVP’s ethos of building the biggest and most global events in combat sports that are mainstream must-sees while giving hardcore fans fights to feast on.

“Dos Santos is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and a Brazilian icon, Salahdine Parnasse is France’s brightest MMA star, Mokaev is one of the best in the sport and Larkin vs Jackson is everything you want in a matchup. 

“Alongside other exciting fighters from around the world, these fights make the card even bigger and reflect the true global scale of the sport.

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“We are continuing to prove that MVP and Netflix can create blockbuster live experiences that bring together fans and fighters from everywhere to create the biggest nights in sport. This is what we do.”

MVP will host a two-part press conference beginning at 5:00pm ET (9pm UK) on April 15 at Palladium Theatre in New York City.

BREAKING NEWS… more to follow