March 17, 2026, 9:20 p.m. ET

To say oddsmakers are heavily favoring Francis Ngannou in his MMA return, that would be an understatement.

Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins preview

Ngannou (18-3), a former UFC heavyweight champion, defended his belt just once against Ciryl Gane before parting ways with the promotion. However, upon signing with PFL in 2023, Ngannou competed just once when he knocked out Renan Ferreira in the first round to win a Super Fights heavyweight title in October 2024. Under the PFL banner, Ngannou was able to box, where he lost to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Lins (18-5), a PFL and UFC veteran, will return to heavyweight after winning four fights in a row at 205 pounds. The Brazilian wasn’t re-signed to the UFC despite being on a winning streak, where he most recently picked up a unanimous decision win over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299 in March 2024.

Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins odds

Oddsmakers believe Lins has very little chance to win. According to BetWay, Ngannou is a whopping -1408 favorite to beat Lins, who is a +600 underdog.

How to watch Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe LinsWhen: Saturday, May 16, 2026Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif.Broadcast/streaming: Netflix