Philipe Lins

Philipe 'Monstro' Lins is a 40-year-old Brazilian heavyweight turned light heavyweight who has spent two decades grinding through regional MMA promotions, Bellator, the PFL, and ultimately the UFC. His career peaked in 2018 when he won the $1 million PFL heavyweight tournament, earning him entry into the UFC's octagon. At heavyweight, he faced stiff competition and struggled: losses to Andrei Arlovski and Tanner Boser in 2020 exposed his vulnerability to elite strikers. Moving to light heavyweight in 2022 revived his career, and he strung together four consecutive wins including an explosive 49-second knockout of Ovince Saint Preux and a unanimous decision over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 299 in March 2024. Despite this hot streak, the UFC cut him shortly after, a shocking turn that left him without a clear path forward in major competition.

Lins fights as a heavy-handed striker, relying on his reach and power to generate knockouts (half his wins come by KO/TKO). However, his record against top-tier opposition reveals concerns about his durability, footwork, and defensive wrestling. His technical level, while sufficient for mid-tier opponents, has been exposed by elite fighters at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. Now, at 40 years old and two years removed from his last UFC bout, Lins has landed an unexpected main-card opportunity: he will face Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion and one of MMA's most destructive pure punchers, on May 16, 2026, in a Netflix-broadcast showcase co-headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. It is a Cinderella matchup for Lins, a journeyman given a shot at redemption against a legend, though the odds heavily favor Ngannou's devastating power and technical mastery. For casual fans, Lins represents the underdog heart of combat sports: a grinder from Brazil still chasing glory at an age when most fighters retire.