Muhammad Mokaev is among a slew of notables set to compete on MVP’s first MMA card. | Getty/UFC
While some of the names may be past their primes, Most Valuable Promotions has nonetheless put together one of the most intriguing fight cards in the first half of 2026.
MVP on Tuesday announced the full lineup for its “Rousey vs. Carano” event, which takes place on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and airs on Netflix. Among those scheduled to compete are former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, undefeated ex-UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev, ex-Bellator MMAwelterweight kingpin Jason Jackson, longtime KSW standout Saladhine Parnasse and former ONE Championship title holder Adriano Moraes.
Dos Santos, who recently revealed he was in negotiations to face recently released UFC heavyweight Jailton Almeida, will instead lock horns with Robelis Despaigne. “Cigano” enjoyed a short reign as UFC heavyweight champion from 2011 to 2012 and is currently the heavyweight champ of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA following a second-round stoppage of Alan Belcher in March 2024.
Despaigne built some hype by beginning his MMA career with five consecutive first-round finishes — including his UFC debut. He parted ways with the Las Vegas-based promotion on the heels of back-to-back losses and has since captured heavyweight gold under the Karate Combat banner.
Mokaev, who is the reigning Brave Combat Federation titlist, is unbeaten in 17 professional outings. He earned a Top 10 ranking after going 7-0 in the UFC, besting the likes of Manel Kape, Alex Perez and Tim Elliott in the process. He was released from the organization in 2024 and has gone 3-0 in MMA bouts since then, winning the Brave CF flyweight strap this past November.
Mokaev will lock horns with Moraes, a former ONE champion at 135 pounds. “Black Diamond” made his name fighting under the ONE banner, going 12-6 during a lengthy stint that began in 2013. He notably scored a second-round knockout victory against Demetrious Johnson in a 135-pound title bout in April 2021.
Jackson will face UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Lorenz Larkin in a welterweight contest. Jackson is a former Bellator 170-pound ruler who owns notable triumphs over the likes of Benson Henderson, Paul Daley, Douglas Lima, Yaroslav Amosov and Ray Cooper III over the course of his professional tenure.
Larkin will return to action for the first time since September 2024, when he scored a first-round KO of Levan Chokheli at Bellator Champions Series San Diego. The 39-year-old known as “The Monsoon” has earned wins over the likes of Robbie Lawler, Jorge Masvidal, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Neil Magny during his pro career.
Parnasse has been victorious in 22 of 24 professional appearances and is the reigning KSW lightweight champion. He also held featherweight gold in the Polish promotion and made an unsuccessful bid to capture the organization’s welterweight crown.
Parnassse will lock horns will Kenneth Cross, a former Dana White’s Contender Series competitor who has been victorious in 11 of his last 12 outings on the regional circuit.
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MVP ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ Card
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano
Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins
Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry
Salahdine Parnasse vs. Kenneth Cross
Junior dos Santos vs. Robelis Despaigne
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes
Lorenz Larkin vs. Jason Jackson
Namo Fazil vs. Jake Babian
David Mgoyan vs. Albert Morales
Aline Pereira vs. Jade Masson-Wong
Chris Avila vs. TBA
