Ngannou Shuts Down Lins' Trash Talk With 4-Word Quip

The former UFC heavyweight champ had a hilarious response to his Netflix fight opponent's pre-bout confidence.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting an intense MMA fight scene, with the combatants' forms broken down into geometric shapes and planes in earthy tones, conveying the raw power and tension of the matchup.Ngannou's sharp retort underscores the gulf in skill between the heavyweight champion and his upcoming challenger.Los Angeles Today

Francis Ngannou, the former UFC and PFL heavyweight champion, had a brief but hilarious exchange with his upcoming opponent Philipe Lins at a press conference for their fight on the first-ever Netflix MMA event. When Lins expressed confidence in his ability to beat Ngannou, the Cameroonian star simply replied: 'You'll need a gun.'

Why it matters

Ngannou and Lins are set to headline the co-main event of Netflix's inaugural MMA show on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. While Lins is coming off a strong UFC run, Ngannou is the lineal heavyweight champion and a heavy favorite. Their verbal exchange highlights the skill gap between the two fighters and the confidence Ngannou has heading into the bout.

The details

Philipe Lins, a former UFC fighter, expressed his belief that he understands what he needs to do to beat Ngannou, saying 'Every day, every training session, every week, [I am] understanding better what I need to do to beat Francis Ngannou, with all respect to him.' However, Ngannou quickly shut down Lins' trash talk with a four-word response: 'You'll need a gun.'

  • The press conference took place last night in New York City.
  • Ngannou and Lins are scheduled to fight on May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

The players

Francis Ngannou

The former UFC and PFL heavyweight champion, who is the lineal heavyweight title holder and a heavy favorite heading into his fight with Philipe Lins.

Philipe Lins

A former UFC fighter who is confident he can pull off an upset against Ngannou in their upcoming Netflix fight.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Every day, every training session, every week, [I am] understanding better what I need to do to beat Francis Ngannou, with all respect to him.”

— Philipe Lins, Fighter

“You'll need a gun.”

— Francis Ngannou, Fighter

What’s next

Ngannou and Lins are scheduled to fight on May 16, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles as the co-main event of Netflix's first-ever MMA show.

The takeaway

Ngannou's quick and confident response to Lins' pre-fight trash talk highlights the significant skill gap between the two fighters. As the lineal heavyweight champion, Ngannou is heavily favored to defeat Lins and maintain his title reign.