Netflix’s MVP MMA 1 endeavour is set to go down, and it includes a massive matchup between Philipe Lins and Francis Ngannou. Lins gets in great work out of American Top Team, and one of his combative compatriots at ATT, who has held the Bellator MMA gold previously, gave his viewpoint on this heavyweight showdown on Saturday night.
The combatant in question is Johnny Eblen, who prepares to run it back with Costello Van Steenis in July as the two will have a sequel clash for PFL middleweight gold. On May 16th at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, MVP MMA 1 transpires with a live broadcast on Netflix featuring some massive names in the sport of mixed martial arts.
With Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano topping the marquee and Mike Perry vs. Nate Diaz promising to bring some big fireworks in it’s own right, the lineal MMA heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will also throw down with the former PFL champion and ex-UFC vet Lins. When offering up thoughts on his ATT peer Lins preparing to fight the former UFC heavyweight champion in the coming days, Eblen said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I think that’s awesome that they’re putting on this Netflix event and that’s a fight I want to see. I think Philipe [Lins] fighting [Francis] Ngannou, that’s huge and it’s really big for Philipe’s career. All these guys are making money and I think it’s great for the fighters.”
Francis Ngannou is the most well-travelled lineal MMA heavyweight champ since Fedor Emelianenko
The lineal title in mixed martial arts at heavyweight certainly has an ample amount of inter-promotional movement with Ngannou embodying that sort of spirit that Fedor Emelianenko had back in the day. With Ngannou successfully defending the lineal belt in the PFL smart cage and now preparing to defend this unofficial but yet all-important distinction at the inaugural MVP MMA card, it harkens back to the days of ‘The Last Emperor’.
Not since Emelianenko defending the lineal crown in Bodog fight, Affliction, and Strikeforce has this sort of cross-organization activity happened with the lineal distinction. With book ended considerations around Emelianenko’s run when Pride folded, most who have held that lineal champ distinction historically competed in longer contractual agreements under specific promotional banners like Pride and UFC.
The spirit of the WAMMA heavyweight title is alive and well amid the fistic fireworks of Ngannou versus Lins, as the industry leader will broadcast the pugilistic proceedings on Saturday.