Cuban fighter Robelis Despaigne delivered one of the weekend's most electrifying moments by brutally knocking out former UFC champion Junior dos Santos in the opening round of the MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano event. This thrilling bout took place last Friday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The match, part of the first-ever mixed martial arts card streamed live on Netflix, captivated millions of viewers worldwide.
Standing at 6'7", the 37-year-old Despaigne took control from the start, utilizing his exceptional reach and striking power. At 2:59 into the first round, the fighter from Santiago unleashed a barrage of right hands that decisively floored the Brazilian, leaving the Intuit Dome audience in awe of his powerful finish.
Netflix commentators captured the moment live: "It was the right punches that brought down Dos Santos. Right on target. What a combination. He walked away calmly, as if it were expected."
For the 42-year-old Junior dos Santos, a former UFC heavyweight champion, this marked his ninth career loss by knockout or technical stoppage.
This victory stands as the most high-profile achievement in Despaigne's MMA career and symbolically significant: defeating a heavyweight legend in front of a global audience.
After the knockout, Despaigne grabbed the microphone to issue a direct challenge to Francis Ngannou, who also won by knockout earlier in the evening by defeating Philipe Lins in the first round: "Francis, I want you next."
Despaigne's journey to this moment was not without hurdles. He made his UFC debut with an 18-second knockout against Josh Parisian in March 2024. However, two consecutive decision losses led to his release from the organization in October that same year.
Refusing to retire, the Santiago native rebuilt his career in Karate Combat, amassing a streak of emphatic victories: a four-second knockout in his December 2024 debut, a 12-second KO against Marcos Brigagão in January 2025, and ultimately capturing the organization's heavyweight title in December 2025.
According to AgentMMA's analysis, Despaigne achieved seven consecutive wins post-UFC, six of which were stoppages, including four knockouts within the first 20 seconds of a fight.
The Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo from the 2012 London Games entered the Netflix event as the reigning Karate Combat heavyweight champion, revitalized in the heavyweight division.
The lingering question is whether a showdown with Ngannou, one of the most feared figures in recent MMA history, will come to fruition. However, the events in California sent a clear message: Despaigne has returned to the spotlight in a career-defining way, with a knockout that cannot be ignored.
Robelis Despaigne's MMA Career Highlights
What was Robelis Despaigne's most notable victory?
Despaigne's most notable victory was his knockout of former UFC champion Junior dos Santos at the MVP MMA event in California.
How did Robelis Despaigne perform after leaving the UFC?
After leaving the UFC, Despaigne rebuilt his career in Karate Combat, achieving seven consecutive victories, six by stoppage, and capturing the heavyweight title.
What challenge did Robelis Despaigne issue after his victory?
Following his victory, Despaigne challenged Francis Ngannou, who also secured a knockout win earlier in the event.