Former UFC Champion Suffers Brutal Knockout on Ronda Rousey Undercard
To kick off the highly anticipated fight card headlined by the return of Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, fans were treated to an intriguing heavyweight matchup featuring two fighters looking for another shot on a major stage.
The opening bout between Junior Dos Santos and Robelis Despaigne carried plenty of curiosity entering the event, especially with both men attempting to rebuild momentum under the bright lights of the first MMA event promoted under Jake Paul's MVP banner on Netflix.
After a brief feeling-out process where both heavyweights exchanged strikes early, Despaigne quickly found his range and timing. The former UFC heavyweight champion attempted to pressure forward, but a crushing right hand from Despaigne landed clean and immediately floored Dos Santos in the opening round. The brutal knockout instantly silenced the crowd and gave Despaigne one of the biggest wins of his combat sports career.
For Dos Santos, the bout marked his return to MMA following recent appearances in Karate Combat. His last MMA appearance came at Eagle FC 47 against Yorgan De Castro, where De Castro was awarded a technical knockout victory in the third round after Dos Santos suffered a dislocated shoulder.
THE CAGESIDE VIEW OF ROBELIS DESPAIGNE KNOCKING OUT JUNIOR DOS SANTOS #RouseyCarano LIVE now on Netflix pic.twitter.com/kNoNioMkTJ
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) May 17, 2026
Meanwhile, Despaigne entered the matchup looking to prove he still belongs on a major platform after being released from the UFC in October 2024. The towering heavyweight made the most of the opportunity and wasted little time delivering a statement performance on one of the sport's biggest streaming stages.
Following the win, Despaigne made it clear he already has his eyes on an even bigger challenge. The heavyweight revealed he is hoping Francis Ngannou wins his upcoming fight so the two can potentially meet next. After a knockout like this, Despaigne may have earned himself a serious conversation about another marquee opportunity.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 7:01 PM.