Jake Paul hints at major Francis Ngannou fight he wants MVP to promote next

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Jake Paul hints at major Francis Ngannou fight he wants MVP to promote next

Originally posted on HITC | By Filipe Guedes | Last updated May 24, 2026 3:33 PM ET

Francis Ngannou made the expected impact on Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card, brutally knocking out Philipe Lins on Netflix.

The result kept ‘The Predator’ at the centre of MVP’s heavyweight plans, with the promotion already needing a credible next opponent.

Robelis Despaigne is one option after his highlight knockout of Junior dos Santos, but MVP co-founder Jake Paul appears to be thinking bigger.

Jake Paul teases MVP promoting Francis Ngannou vs Rico Verhoeven

Photo by Mohamed Hossam/Getty Images

Paul hinted at a striking-heavy crossover after Rico Verhoeven’s controversial boxing defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, writing on X: “Rico vs Francis MVP / MVP MMA”.

The timing mattered because Verhoeven had just raised his status despite losing to Usyk in the 11th round.

The former GLORY kickboxing champion put the best boxer of his generation under serious pressure and briefly threatened to become heavyweight world champion.

That performance made a potential Ngannou fight more attractive, especially after Verhoeven proved he could carry danger outside kickboxing.

There is also history behind the idea. Before signing to fight Usyk for a boxing heavyweight world title, the Dutchman was offered a deal to face Ngannou under the MVP banner.

He chose the boxing route instead, but Paul’s post suggests the promotion has not moved on from that matchup.

For MVP, it would be an obvious second attempt. Ngannou needs a major name after flattening Lins, and Verhoeven now has more combat sports attention than ever.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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