We provide you with our MVP MMA betting tips and picks ahead of a big night in California.
Billed ‘The Biggest fight in MMA’, the return of Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano grabbed headlines when it was announced and hasn’t slowed down since. The brash, confident Rousey is back to her old ways, taking over the mic in boisterous fashion, taking aim at everyone involved in her former promotion, the UFC, but interestingly, not her opponent.
Rousey vs Carano Card
Main Event
It’s been some 10 years since we’ve seen ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey make the walk. On that occasion, she was only in action for 48 seconds, having been blasted away by a prime Amanda Nunes.
For Carano, it’s been even longer. 17 years ago was the last time we saw Gina Carano in MMA action, although she’s never been far from fans’ minds. On that night, like Rousey, she was on the wrong end of a knockout finish, this time at the fists of Cris Cyborg.
But, on May 16th from the Intuit Dome in California, they’re back!
Co-Main Event
The co-main event will see fan favourite scrappers, Nate Diaz and Mike Perry go at it across five rounds in a fight that has fans salivating. Are they past their best? Sure. Are they going to trouble the top 10 of the welterweight division any time soon? No chance. Will it be fun? For sure.
Diaz hasn’t competed in MMA since 2022, a submission victory over Tony Ferguson in a messy UFC 279 main event picture. Perry hasn’t competed in MMA since 2021, a loss to Daniel Rodriguez.
Despite both being inactive in MMA, both men have been busy in the world of combat sports. Diaz has
Perry, on the other hand has been extremely active in boxing and bare knuckle. He’s 0-1 in professional boxing, however, in bare knuckle, Perry is the hunted. He’s 6-0 with wins over Michael Page, Jeremy Stephens and Eddie Alvarez, to name a few.
Featured Heavyweight Bout
The return of the Predator, the lineal UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. Ngannou, like the two women in the main event, hasn’t been active in recent years. Although he ventured into the world of boxing and took on both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, he’s only competed once in MMA since leaving the UFC in 2022. With that being said, on the occasion that he did compete in MMA, he blasted Renan Ferreira away in less than a round.
Ngannou clashes with Philipe Lins, another man who has been inactive as of late. He last competed in 2024 at UFC 299. He’s enjoying a four fight winning run and hasn’t lost since 2020, however, coming up against Ngannou is a different task.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our MVP MMA betting tips.
MVP MMA Betting Tips
Ronda Rousey to win via submission -210
Not amazing odds, however, the most likely outcome of the fight is that Ronda Rousey adds to her nine career submissions. Although Carano has never been submitted and trains with elite wrestlers, Rousey’s MMA clinch work is a different beast.
The Olympic judo bronze medalist will look to close the distance, ground Carano and if she can’t, will look to lean on her, fatigue her and make her pursuit to the ground easier in the latter rounds.
If you can find a specific market for Rousey to add to her eight career armbars, why not back it!
This is the first of our MVP MMA betting tips.
Nate Diaz via submission in round 3
Another submission is being predicted in the co-main event. Nate Diaz has 12 career submissions and although Perry has only lost once via submission, we’re predicting the Stockton native to get it done in round three.
Diaz will likely look to put a pace on Perry, who has never been scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In BKFC, Perry has only competed across two-minute rounds and for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Diaz will fatigue Perry, force him to clinch and snatch a submission in the third round.
Francis Ngannou by first round finish -150
Francis Ngannou is a ‘don’t blink’ type of fighter. Throughout his UFC career, he became known as a plod forwards, land huge shots and more often than not, get his opponent out of there.
The former UFC heavyweight king has nine first round finishes throughout his career and we’re predicting he gets another one in California.
Lins has been knocked out four times in his professional MMA career and, having taken two years off, it isn’t the best prep. The Brazilian also hasn’t competed at heavyweight since 2020, so isn’t used to being hit with heavyweight power… although Ngannou’s power is like any other.
Francis Ngannou by first round finish – back it.
