With a card headlined by names like Ronda Rousey, Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, and Salahdine Parnasse, it’s difficult to draw attention away from the major stars at MVP MMA 1. Though beyond the headliners and familiar faces, the card also features several prospects looking to turn a massive platform into a career-changing moment. Here’s who to watch:
Phumi Nkuta, 30, Flyweight, 11-0-0, Longo’s MMA
New Jersey’s very own Phumi “Turbo” Nkuta is finally getting his big break on a major stage at MVP MMA 1. It’s been a grueling journey filled with injury setbacks and long layoffs across multiple promotions, including Bellator, CFFC, LFA, Peak Fighting, A1 Combat, and more. Yet, Nkuta has come out on top in the face of adversity every time.
The undefeated prospect holds a 16-fight win streak across amateur and professional MMA. Most notably, he won and defended the Cage Fury FC title twice in 2021. He later accepted a catchweight bout with Cleveland McLean, who had just been submitted by Joshua Van in his previous appearance. Now, fast forward to May 2026, and Nkuta is making a jump in competition against former ONE Championship titleholder Adriano Moraes.
Nkuta steps in on short notice for the popular Muhammad Mokaev, who many expected to defeat Moraes within the opening minutes. Now, with a new challenger in the mix, different questions arise: can Nkuta handle Moraes in the same dominant fashion Mokaev was expected to?
The 30-year-old Longo’s MMA fighter has a stellar jiu-jitsu game, with numerous submissions on display in both MMA and grappling matches. He simply doesn’t allow opponents to return to their feet. Standing only 5’5”, you wouldn’t expect the flyweight to be as heavy as he is in top control. Still, he understands how to distribute his weight and rarely gives opponents any space from the bottom.
On the feet, he’s often bouncing in and out of the pocket with a wide base, showing his opponent different stances and a variety of feints. His strikes flash with quick hands and a powerful right hand, while still staying disciplined defensively. Nkuta never sells out his defense for offense. He keeps his head moving off the line and owns the cage’s surface area after landing power shots on his opponent.
This is a major step up for the undefeated prospect, but he should’ve been in the UFC or PFL a long time ago. There’s no question that Nkuta’s talent is up there with countless flyweights in major promotions. It’ll be a treat to see the New Jersey representative on a stage with plenty of viewership. A finish would blow everyone away on May 16, but don’t be surprised if “Turbo” comes through with his most notable performance yet.
David Mgoyan, 21, Lightweight, 8-1-0, American Top Team
You may remember Mgoyan’s name from this past edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, where he lost a majority decision to Tommy McMillen in a highly debated outcome. Since then, Mgoyan returned to the win column, defeating Javier Garcia at Up Next Fighting 30 via unanimous decision. Now, another move follows as Mgoyan will fly a new flag on May 16, taking on Albert Morales at MVP MMA 1 on Netflix.
Mgoyan enters this fight as a significant favorite over the veteran Morales, who, surprisingly enough, will be coming from the same promotion. It feels like a bit of an extension from UNF into MVP MMA, with both the promotion’s number one prospect and featherweight titleholder competing under a new banner.
Despite his loss to McMillen, there should still be a belief that Mgoyan possesses a desirable skill set that can propel him forward at the highest level. The 21-year-old is currently training at American Top Team while also participating in several camps alongside fellow Armenian fighter Arman Tsarukyan. He has technically sound striking and is a strong wrestler with excellent ability on the mats. At first glance, Mgoyan may seem like a striker first and a grappler second, though his best offense comes when he’s constantly bringing opponents to the ground.
Mgoyan should have the edge in nearly every area against Albert Morales. The real challenge will be getting the finish, as Morales hasn’t been stopped inside the distance since Victor Henry submitted him in 2025. Expect Mgoyan to follow a similar blueprint as he looks to make a statement and potentially earn another opportunity with the UFC.
Jeff Creighton, 30, Welterweight, 12-2-1, TEAMS MMA
Another familiar name here is “Jazzy” Jeff Creighton, who competed for Team Cormier during the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. Facing off against Team Sonnen, Creighton secured a majority decision victory over Andreas Binder before running into Rodrigo Sezinando, where his tournament hopes were thwarted in a split decision loss. Soon after, Creighton agreed to terms with LFA, fighting another TUF welterweight sent home early in “Brazilian Bad Boy” Diego Bianchini.
Creighton went on to win that fight, moving his professional record to 12-2-1 with a unanimous decision victory. While he isn’t the flashiest fighter by any means, Creighton brings a workmanlike mentality that constantly allows him to improve his game and hang around in fights where he’s outgunned early. From the start of The Ultimate Fighter to the finish, it was clear that Creighton had taken a step forward, using the opportunity to his advantage despite not being signed by the UFC.
He’s a solid striker on the feet who is always pressuring his opponents, never overly concerned with the power coming back at him. Some of the strikes Creighton eats will make his opposition question if they’re ever going to get him out of there, making him a frustrating assignment for any fighter trying to score a quick highlight in the opening rounds.
As the fight progresses, Creighton begins fighting at a much higher level, possessing a rare gas tank and a high IQ that give him the ability to read his opponents. Often edging out decision victories or finding late finishes to put his stamp on the fight, Creighton is always a live underdog with value past the first round.
This one will be a tall order for Creighton at MVP MMA 1, as he comes in on short notice in place of Lorenz Larkin to face veteran Jason Jackson in a three-round affair. Jackson is coming off a close decision loss to rising PFL superstar Thad Jean, though he also possesses extremely high-quality wins, including being the only man to defeat current UFC sensation Yaroslav Amosov, finishing him in the third round by punches.
Creighton will have to put on his best performance yet to come out on top against Jason Jackson. If he does, he’ll be rocketed to the top of the 170-pound prospect list and could find himself looking at another major opportunity.
