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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Robelis Despaigne added a massive highlight to his growing combat sports resume Saturday night. Opening the main card of Rousey vs. Carano at Intuit Dome, Despaigne dismantled former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos before finishing him with a brutal combination in the first round.

The official stoppage came at 2:59 of Round 1. Despaigne (6-2 MMA) looked sharp and composed from the opening bell. Using his size, reach and striking precision, the Cuban heavyweight repeatedly tagged Dos Santos before finally unleashing a devastating right-left-right combination that dropped the former UFC champion and ended the fight. The finish immediately became one of the most talked-about knockouts of the night.

Although Despaigne does not yet possess the résumé of Junior Dos Santos, he continues building momentum rapidly. The 37-year-old has now won eight straight combat sports appearances overall after transitioning successfully into Karate Combat following his UFC release in late 2024.

Since leaving the UFC, Despaigne has gone 7-0 in Karate Combat and recently captured the promotion’s heavyweight title. Saturday’s MMA return may have been his biggest statement yet.

Despaigne Calls Out Francis Ngannou

Following the victory, Despaigne revealed he wants to continue competing in both MMA and Karate Combat moving forward. He also wasted no time targeting one of the biggest names in heavyweight combat sports.

Despaigne publicly called for a future fight against Francis Ngannou after the win. Given Ngannou’s growing involvement with crossover combat sports events, the possibility immediately generated buzz online.

Difficult Stretch Continues for Dos Santos

For Junior Dos Santos, the loss marked another difficult chapter late in his fighting career. The 42-year-old had not competed in gloved MMA since 2022 and entered the fight after spending time competing in bareknuckle boxing. While Dos Santos found some success in that format, Saturday’s defeat marked his fifth straight loss in traditional MMA competition.

Robelis Despaigne delivered the type of knockout that instantly raises his profile. After flattening a former UFC heavyweight champion on a Netflix-streamed card, Despaigne suddenly looks like a heavyweight attraction worth watching closely moving forward.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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