Rousey and Ngannou Shine at MVP MMA 1 as Legends Return to the Cage
The first-ever MMA event under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions banner delivered a night packed with nostalgia, brutal finishes, and headline-making returns at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey made a stunning comeback after nearly eight years away from competition, defeating Gina Carano in just 17 seconds. Rousey secured her trademark armbar submission almost immediately after the opening bell, reminding fans why she once dominated women’s MMA. Carano, meanwhile, competed in her first MMA bout in nearly 17 years.
The event’s main card heavily focused on high-profile returns, and several veteran fighters made strong statements inside the cage.
In the co-main event, Mike Perry defeated Nate Diaz via second-round TKO after Diaz suffered a deep cut that forced the doctor to stop the fight. Diaz had not competed in MMA since September 2022, while Perry was returning to MMA action for the first time since 2021.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou also made a massive impact in his return to mixed martial arts. Ngannou scored a devastating first-round knockout victory over Philipe Lins, ending his nearly two-year absence from MMA in dominant fashion.
Elsewhere on the card, Salahdine Parnasse quickly stopped Kenneth Cross in the opening round, while heavyweight striker Robelis Despaigne knocked out former UFC champion Junior dos Santos in explosive fashion.
The undercard featured several impressive finishes as well. Namo Fazil submitted Jake Babian in the second round, and former Bellator champion Adriano Moraes secured a third-round submission win over Phumi Nkuta. Jason Jackson added another highlight-reel moment with a first-round knockout victory against Jeff Creighton.
Additional winners included David Mgoyan, who earned a unanimous decision over Albert Morales, Aline Pereira, who edged Jade Masson-Wong by split decision, and Brandon Jenkins, who defeated Chris Avila in another split-decision battle.
MVP MMA 1 Main Card Results
1. Ronda Rousey def. Gina Carano via submission (Round 1)
2. Mike Perry def. Nate Diaz via TKO (Round 2)
3. Francis Ngannou def. Philipe Lins via TKO (Round 1)
4. Salahdine Parnasse def. Kenneth Cross via TKO (Round 1)
5. Robelis Despaigne def. Junior dos Santos via KO (Round 1)
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