In a card full of ‘MMA’s Best Hits’, the main event is a bit tough to call.

Ronda Rousey, once the face of MMA, has not fought since her 48-second demolition loss to Amanda Nunes in December 2016. Gina Carano has had an even longer spell away from the octagon, last losing similarly to Cris Cyborg in August 2009.

Both paved their own avenues away from combat sports. Rousey had a stint in WWE that ended in somewhat controversy with her vocal disdain for the business. Carano, meanwhile, looked set for a successful Hollywood career following her appearances in Deadpool and The Mandalorian. Controversial political comments put an end to that, and now she finds herself fighting for the first time in nearly 17 years.

I’m basing this odd not just on more recent activity, but on styles. Rousey’s judo style saw her rip through women’s MMA until her first loss to Holly Holm. Along the way, she’s beaten some stellar competition and has more of a chip on her shoulder than Carano.

This feels like a cynical cash grab from Gina. You could argue the same for Ronda, but it genuinely feels like she has unfinished business within the sport. Many tipped her for a potential UFC return, and this could be the launchpad for that.

As soon as she gets Carano to the ground, I think it’s over.

This is the people’s main event, and really probably is more of a draw than Rousey v Carano.

Nate Diaz makes the walk for his first MMA fight since September 2022, while Perry hasn’t fought in MMA since April 2021.

Both have been active in combat sports, however. Diaz fought both Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal in pro boxing bouts. Perry, as well, has fought Paul, but has also paved a successful career in bare-knuckle boxing and is the unofficial face of BKFC.

10 years ago, this fight would have fans chomping at the bit. Now, though, it feels like we’ll be subjected to more antics than fighting quality.

I’m surprised to see this fight tipped at odds against going the distance. Perry will come out of the blocks in a bid to KO Diaz early. Sadly, that’s pretty much what all of Diaz’s opponents have done in his career to little effect.

Diaz will have the gas tank to go the full distance, and will walk Perry to a decision in my opinion.

Expect antics along the way. Plenty of ‘Stockton Slaps’, plenty of Perry warcries, and the fight to go the distance at 2.10.

Francis Ngannou is back in MMA.

A short but well-paid stint in PFL aside, we’ve been starved of MMA action from Francis Ngannou recently, having only fought once since 2022.

His boxing career took a stutter-step following his devastating KO loss to Anthony Joshua, and it feels like Francis has his eyes fully focused on MMA.

His return on this Netflix card is against decent opposition, however. Brazilian Phillipe Lins was released from the UFC in 2024 despite being on a four-fight win streak, and doesn’t feel like the easy layup MVP promotions would offer up to Francis on his return.

That being said, I can’t see this fight going past the first, and only ending with an Ngannou KO. Four out of five losses on Lins’ pro record are by way of KO, and it’s always the case with Frances that once he connects, it’s lights out.

1.67 seems a reasonable price for this to end in round one with Lins on the canvas.

It feels a bit sad to see Junior Dos Santos still fighting.

Once one of the best heavyweights in the world, Dos Santos has fallen victim to Father Time. He is coming off the back of two wins, but that followed five consecutive losses, all of which were by TKO, and saw his UFC run come to an end.

His opponent, Robelis Despaigne, is a genetic freak of nature. Standing 6ft 7, big things were expected of the Cuban, who won bronze in taekwondo at the 2012 Olympics. An 18-second KO win on his UFC debut showed we may have a new threat in the heavyweight division. However, back-to-back decision losses saw the UFC wash their hands of Despaigne, and now he finds himself on MVP’s Netflix card.

It’s disappointing to see this matchup. It feels like all Despaigne has to do is connect, and it’s over. Dos Santos’ recent run of losses is a glaring red flag, and 1.40 for Despaigne to win by KO/TKO seems too good to pass up.