Francis Ngannou may not have to wait long for his next big challenge—and it could come on the very same night he steps into the cage. As the MMA world gears up for Netflix's inaugural MMA event on May 16, all eyes are on Ngannou's return against Philipe Lins. While some fans have questioned the matchup, Jake Paul has publicly backed Lins, adding another layer of intrigue to an already stacked card.

But the real buzz isn't just about Ngannou vs. Lins. UFC veteran Sam Alvey believes the promotion is playing a long game, and the payoff could be massive. Alvey, who faced rising star Robelis Despaigne last December, is convinced that the Cuban southpaw is being primed for a future showdown with Ngannou. Despaigne is scheduled to face former UFC champion Junior dos Santos on the same card, and Alvey expects a dominant performance.

"Robelis is gonna smoke JDS, he is. I love JDS, he was great, but that was years ago. Now he's good, Robelis is still great," Alvey told Bloody Elbow. "They want Robelis vs Ngannou. That's what they want. Ngannou's gonna win, Robelis is gonna win, then they're gonna fight each other. That's what's going to happen, you can bet on it right now. Blame me if you lose."

Alvey's prediction adds fuel to the fire for what could be one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes in recent memory. While other heavyweights like Phil De Fries were also in the mix for a fight with Ngannou, Despaigne's name kept surfacing as a potential opponent for May 16—until the promotion decided to keep them apart. For now.

Alvey, who knows a thing or two about unconventional matchups, is preparing for his own exhibition bout against bodybuilder Alexander "The Freak," born from a social media feud. Despite the predictable nature of some fights on the card, Alvey gives credit where it's due: Most Valuable Promotions has put together an event that fans will want to watch.

"It's two different cards… Ronda vs Gina is the perfect main event," Alvey said, drawing a line between the Netflix event and the UFC's upcoming plans. But for fight fans, the real story might just be what happens after the dust settles on May 16—and whether Ngannou and Despaigne will finally collide in the cage.