In 2011, Junior dos Santos made history by knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds to capture the UFC heavyweight title in the first-ever UFC bout aired live on FOX. Nearly 15 years later, fate swung back around the opposite way in brutal fashion.
Competing in the inaugural 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.
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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.
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.
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“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.
