In 2011, Junior dos Santos made history by knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to capture the UFC heavyweight title on the first-ever UFC bout aired live on FOX. Nearly 15 years later, fate swung back around the opposite way in brutal fashion.
Competing on the first-ever MMA fight broadcasted on Netflix, the former UFC heavyweight champion suffered a grisly first-round knockout loss at the hands of Robelis Despaigne to open Saturday’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
After bloodying dos Santos (23-11) early, Despaigne (6-2) downed the Brazilian legend for good with a ferocious volley of punches at the 2:59 mark of Round 1.
DESPAIGNE ROUND 1 KNOCKOUT!
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🌎 NETFLIX#RouseyCarano#DiazPerry#NgannouLinspic.twitter.com/7IJmhwZ13P— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 17, 2026
Robelis Despaigne possesses some scary power 😳 #RouseyCaranopic.twitter.com/fzUJiZ4rPS
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) May 17, 2026
An Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo who stands a towering 6-foot-7, Cuba’s Despaigne entered the UFC with lofty expectations in 2024, but quickly flamed out and was released after suffering back-to-back defeats across a six-month span. Despaigne, 37, then transitioned over to the world of Karate Combat, where he racked up a 7-0 record and won the promotion’s heavyweight championship before returning to MMA for Saturday’s Netflix card.
“I want to stay doing both [MMA and Karate Combat],” Despaigne said post-fight, reveling in his victory. He then called out another former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, who’s set to compete on Saturday’s main card against Philipe Lins.
“Francis, I want you next,” Despaigne said without the need for a translator.
For dos Santos, 42, the result may mark a brutal end to an otherwise decorated career. The former champ hadn’t competed since winning two bare-knuckle MMA fights in 2023-24, but prior to that had lost five consecutive MMA bouts of the gloved variety, all by TKO.