Robelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior Dos Santos in Historic Netflix MMA Debut
In a landmark event marking Netflix’s first live MMA broadcast, Robelis Despaigne defeated former UFC champion Junior dos Santos via first-round knockout at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The bout, part of MVP MMA’s inaugural card headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, saw Despaigne dominate with striking power, ending the fight at 2:59 of the first round. This victory revitalizes Despaigne’s career, prompting him to challenge Francis Ngannou, while the loss may signal the end for the veteran dos Santos. The event highlights a significant shift in combat sports media rights.
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Junior Dos Santos Knocked Out by Robelis Despaigne in Netflix MMA Debut
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos suffered a first-round knockout loss to Cuban fighter Robelis Despaigne during the opening match of Netflix's inaugural broadcast MMA event. The fight took place at the Intuit Dome on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Despaigne secured the victory early in the round with a powerful three-punch combination that left Dos Santos stunned and unable to continue. This bout marked Dos Santos's return to competition under the MVP (Most Valuable Promotions) banner, following his previous appearance for Gamebred FC in March 2024. Dos Santos, a Brazilian veteran with a professional record of 21-11-0, has historically been known for his striking power, with 15 of his wins coming by knockout. However, this loss adds to his nine career knockout defeats. The event signifies a major step for Netflix into live sports broadcasting, featuring high-profile matchups to attract subscribers. The quick defeat was a disappointing start for Dos Santos, who had hoped for a stronger showing in this high-visibility platform.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior dos Santos in First Round on Netflix MMA Card
In the opening bout of the main card for a recent Netflix MMA event, Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne defeated former UFC champion Junior dos Santos via a first-round knockout. The fight concluded around the three-minute mark when Despaigne landed a brutal three-punch combination, sending dos Santos to the canvas. This victory improved Despaigne's professional record to 6-2, maintaining his perfect streak of winning all six bouts by knockout. Conversely, the loss marked a significant low point for the 42-year-old dos Santos, whose career record dropped to 21-11. This defeat represents his ninth loss by knockout or technical knockout and extends his losing streak to six consecutive fights, all ending in stoppages. Despaigne, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo, showcased his striking power against the Brazilian veteran. The event, which also featured high-profile matchups like Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, highlighted Despaigne's continued dominance in the heavyweight division despite previous decision losses earlier in his career.
yahoo sportsFormer UFC Champion Junior Dos Santos Knocked Out by Robelis Despaigne in Netflix MMA Debut
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos suffered a decisive first-round knockout loss to Robelis Despaigne during the MVP MMA 1 event in Inglewood, California. The bout, serving as the main card opener, marked Netflix's inaugural live MMA broadcast. Despaigne, an Olympic bronze medalist and former Karate Combat champion, ended the fight at 2:01 of the first round with a powerful three-punch combination that dropped the 42-year-old Brazilian veteran. Although Dos Santos initially found success with leg kicks, Despaigne exploited his reach advantage to secure the victory. This loss severely jeopardizes Dos Santos's future in mixed martial arts, casting doubt on his potential for further competition after a recent stint in bareknuckle boxing. Conversely, the win significantly boosts Despaigne's profile, prompting him to call out heavyweight star Francis Ngannou in his post-fight interview. The event also featured other high-profile matchups, including Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry and a main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, highlighting the growing intersection of legacy combat sports figures and new media streaming platforms.
Forbes - BusinessRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior Dos Santos in Netflix MMA Debut
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos suffered a decisive first-round knockout loss to Robelis Despaigne during the MVP MMA 1 event in Inglewood, California. The bout, serving as the main card opener for Netflix's inaugural MMA broadcast featuring Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, ended at 2:01 of the first round. Despaigne, an Olympic bronze medalist and former Karate Combat champion, overcame early leg kicks from dos Santos to land a devastating three-punch combination that sealed the victory. This loss significantly jeopardizes the 42-year-old dos Santos' future in mixed martial arts, casting doubt on his potential for a meaningful comeback despite previous successes in bareknuckle boxing. Conversely, the win revitalizes Despaigne's career following two consecutive UFC losses in 2024, boosting his profile on a global stage and prompting him to challenge heavyweight star Francis Ngannou. The event marks a significant milestone for Netflix's entry into live MMA streaming, with high-profile matchups including Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry also featured on the card.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior Dos Santos at Rousey vs. Carano Event
In a heavyweight bout headlining the undercard of the Rousey vs. Carano event, Karate Combat champion Robelis Despaigne defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos via knockout. The fight took place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Despaigne, who had not competed in MMA since his UFC release in late 2024, dominated the exchange before landing a decisive right-left-right combination at the 2:59 mark of the first round. This victory marks a significant highlight for Despaigne, who has maintained an undefeated streak in Karate Combat since pivoting from MMA. Following the win, the 37-year-old expressed interest in competing in both disciplines and called out Francis Ngannou for a future matchup. Conversely, 42-year-old Dos Santos continues to struggle in gloved MMA, suffering his fifth consecutive loss in the format, despite recent success in bare-knuckle boxing. The event also featured other notable results, including submissions by Namo Fazil and Adriano Moraes, and quick knockouts by Jason Jackson.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior dos Santos in First Round at Netflix Event
In a high-profile mixed martial arts bout held on May 16, 2026, Cuban striker Robelis Despaigne defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos via a decisive first-round knockout. The event, broadcast live on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, featured Despaigne dominating the fight from the opening bell. Despite dos Santos' reputation for toughness, he struggled to handle Despaigne's significant reach advantage and movement. Despaigne, who entered the fight as a heavy betting favorite despite recent MMA losses, utilized his striking skills to bloody dos Santos before landing a crushing right hand that ended the contest immediately. This victory marked a successful return to form for Despaigne, who had previously maintained an undefeated record in Karate Combat. The fight served as part of the main card for the headline event featuring Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, marking a significant moment for MMA coverage on the streaming platform.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior dos Santos in Netflix's First MMA Broadcast
In a historic milestone for streaming sports, Robelis Despaigne defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos via a brutal first-round knockout during the inaugural MMA fight broadcast on Netflix. The bout served as part of the undercard for the highly anticipated Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Despaigne, a 6-foot-7 Olympic taekwondo bronze medalist, dominated the encounter, ending the fight at the 2:59 mark of the first round with a fierce combination of punches. This victory marks a significant comeback for Despaigne, who previously struggled in the UFC before finding success in Karate Combat. Conversely, the loss may signal the end of the decorated career of 42-year-old dos Santos, who had already suffered five consecutive TKO losses in gloved MMA prior to this match. Following his win, Despaigne expressed interest in continuing to compete in both MMA and Karate Combat and immediately challenged fellow former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who was also scheduled to fight on the same card. The event highlights Netflix's expanding footprint in live sports broadcasting.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Knocks Out Junior dos Santos in Historic Netflix MMA Debut
Robelis Despaigne secured a devastating first-round knockout against former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos during the main card of Netflix's inaugural MMA event, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. The bout took place on May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Despite early struggles with dos Santos's leg kicks, Despaigne capitalized on an opening, landing a stiff right hand that destabilized the Brazilian legend. He followed up with two more powerful punches, sending dos Santos to the canvas and forcing referee Frank Trigg to stop the contest at 2:59 of the first round. This victory marks a significant moment as the first-ever MMA fight broadcast on Netflix. Despaigne, a former Karate Combat champion, expressed gratitude for his background in karate and stated his intention to compete in both disciplines. He also voiced support for Francis Ngannou and hinted at pursuing a belt within the organization. The win signals a potential resurgence for Despaigne in mixed martial arts after previous challenges in the UFC.
yahoo sportsJunior dos Santos Faces Robelis Despaigne in MVP MMA Heavyweight Bout
This article serves as a live blog introduction for the heavyweight matchup between former UFC champion Junior dos Santos and Karate Combat titleholder Robelis Despaigne. The fight is part of the MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano event, historically significant as the first-ever MMA broadcast on Netflix, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Dos Santos, aged 42, brings a record of 23-10 with notable past victories over legends like Cain Velasquez and Stipe Miocic, though he recently competed in bareknuckle MMA. Conversely, Despaigne holds a 5-2 record and has gained prominence in Karate Combat with rapid knockouts, despite losing his last two traditional MMA fights. Betting markets favor Despaigne significantly, listing him at -320 against Dos Santos at +235. The piece highlights the contrast between the veteran former champion and the rising striker, setting the stage for a key bout on the main card of this landmark streaming event.
yahoo sportsJunior dos Santos Targets Boxing Matches with Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul After MVP Debut
Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos is set to make his debut for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) against Robelis Despaigne at the organization's inaugural MMA event in Inglewood, California. The 42-year-old Brazilian fighter views this bout as a strategic step toward achieving his goal of competing in professional boxing. Dos Santos expressed strong interest in high-profile boxing matches against Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, citing their marketability and his own preference for striking-focused combat over the complexities of mixed martial arts. He believes a boxing rematch with Ngannou, whom he lost to in 2019, would be particularly appealing to fans due to their knockout power. Additionally, Dos Santos highlighted MVP's connections to the boxing world, specifically through Jake Paul, as a key factor in signing with the promotion. He described preparing for MMA as more cumbersome due to the need to defend against takedowns and kicks, whereas boxing allows him to focus on his primary strength. A victory over Despaigne, a tall and fast heavyweight, is seen as the catalyst for these future crossover opportunities.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Promises Improved Grappling Ahead of MMA Return Against Junior Dos Santos
Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne is set to return to mixed martial arts competition at the inaugural MVP MMA event, facing former UFC champion Junior Dos Santos. This marks Despaigne's first MMA bout since 2024, following his release from the UFC after two consecutive decision losses where he was dominated on the ground. Despite spending the interim period competing in Karate Combat, Despaigne asserts that he has diligently worked on his wrestling and grappling skills to address previous weaknesses. He acknowledges the significant challenge posed by Dos Santos, citing the Brazilian veteran's experience and striking prowess. However, Despaigne anticipates that Dos Santos may attempt to control the fight through grappling and fence work rather than engaging solely in a striking exchange. The fighter views this high-profile matchup, which will be broadcast on Netflix, as a crucial opportunity to rebuild his reputation and demonstrate a more complete skill set. Despaigne remains cautious but confident, emphasizing his preparation for various strategic approaches from his opponent as he aims to reignite the momentum from his earlier knockout victories.
yahoo sportsRobelis Despaigne Targets Francis Ngannou Fight After MVP MMA Debut
Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne has expressed strong interest in fighting Francis Ngannou, contingent on both fighters securing victories at the upcoming MVP MMA event. Despaigne, an Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo, is making his return to mixed martial arts after leaving the UFC in 2024. He is scheduled to face former UFC champion Junior Dos Santos on the main card of Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural event, which features a headline bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The event is set to take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and will stream live on Netflix. Despaigne stated that while a matchup with Ngannou was not initially on his radar, public demand and the potential for high-profile exposure have made it an attractive opportunity. He suggested that if both he and Ngannou, who faces Philipe Lins on the same card, win their respective bouts, a future clash could even involve a championship belt. Although Despaigne has only signed a one-fight deal with MVP, he hopes the success of this inaugural Netflix-streamed event will lead to more opportunities within the promotion.
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