Ali Akbar Rosady
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight kingpin Junior dos Santos is set to make his debut for Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) on May 16 in Inglewood, California, where he will face fellow heavyweight Robelis Despaigne. The highly anticipated bout, airing live on Netflix, represents a pivotal moment for the Brazilian veteran, who views this appearance not only as an opportunity to secure a victory but also as a strategic gateway to his long-desired professional boxing career, targeting high-profile matchups against Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul.
Dos Santos, known affectionately as "Cigano," carved out an illustrious career in the UFC, reaching the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. His reign as champion began in November 2011 with a historic first-round knockout of Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX 1, marking the promotion’s inaugural event on the network. Throughout his tenure, dos Santos delivered memorable performances, including decisive knockout victories over prominent figures such as Fabricio Werdum, Frank Mir, and Derrick Lewis. His signature boxing-heavy style and powerful overhand right made him one of the most feared strikers in mixed martial arts for over a decade.
However, dos Santos has not competed in traditional mixed martial arts for four years, with his last UFC bout occurring in August 2020. In the interim, the 40-year-old diversified his combat sports resume, venturing into bare-knuckle MMA. Under the Gamebred FC banner, he secured two notable victories, defeating Alan Belcher and, in a significant rematch, Fabricio Werdum, further demonstrating his enduring striking prowess and adaptability in a less restrictive format. These bare-knuckle outings, while different from traditional MMA, allowed dos Santos to continue honing his stand-up game, an essential foundation for his boxing aspirations.
Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by boxing sensation Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, has rapidly established itself as a significant player in the combat sports landscape, primarily known for its high-profile boxing events featuring crossover stars. Their expansion into mixed martial arts signals an ambitious move to challenge established norms, underscored by their groundbreaking partnership with Netflix. While MVP is reportedly planning a major MMA event in 2026 headlined by Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, dos Santos’s upcoming fight marks their initial foray into the discipline.
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Dos Santos revealed that MVP initially approached him with an offer to face rising UFC contender Jailton Almeida. However, negotiations did not materialize for that particular matchup, leading to the current one-fight contract against Despaigne. A key factor in dos Santos’s decision to sign with MVP was the promotion’s deep connections within the boxing world, a clear alignment with his long-term goals.
"That was already with that in mind when I signed with them," dos Santos told MMA Fighting, referring to his boxing ambitions. "My eyes are on Jake Paul, who’s now fighting at heavyweight too. He was even bringing up the possibility of boxing Ngannou. I think Ngannou regrets not taking the Jake Paul match, and now he wants it. And Ngannou himself, a boxing match between me and him, a rematch, I think that would be sensational."
His interest in Jake Paul stems from the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s increasing legitimacy in the sport and his recent ventures into the heavyweight division. Paul, who has developed a considerable following and demonstrated significant drawing power, presents a lucrative and high-visibility opponent. His recent discussions about potentially facing Francis Ngannou further validate Paul’s position within the heavyweight boxing conversation.
However, it is a potential boxing rematch with Francis Ngannou that truly ignites dos Santos’s enthusiasm. The two heavyweights previously met in the UFC Octagon in June 2019. At the time, dos Santos was enjoying a resurgence, riding a three-fight winning streak with victories over Tai Tuivasa, Blagoy Ivanov, and Derrick Lewis. Ngannou, then a rapidly ascending force, delivered a swift knockout victory over dos Santos in just 71 seconds.
"That fight was quick and obviously, because of the mistake I made and I paid the price," dos Santos reflected on the 2019 loss. "Credit to him. But I think a second fight between us in boxing would be something really interesting."
Ngannou’s subsequent ventures into professional boxing have captivated the sports world. Despite losing controversial decisions to WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury in October 2023 and suffering a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March 2024, Ngannou showcased surprising skill and formidable power, particularly in dropping Fury. His performances have solidified his status as a legitimate crossover boxing attraction, making a rematch with dos Santos in the squared circle all the more compelling.
Dos Santos believes a boxing encounter would maximize the appeal for fans. "I think [boxing] would even be more appealing and interesting for the fans," he stated. "Everybody knows the kind of knockout power that guy has, insanely heavy hands. I think it would have a bigger draw in boxing." He also asserted his own credentials, claiming, "I don’t know anyone who has more pure boxing characteristics than I do." This sentiment underscores his belief that a pure boxing environment would best highlight his strengths against Ngannou’s raw power.
The desire to transition to boxing is not new for dos Santos. As early as 2012, shortly after capturing the UFC heavyweight title, he publicly challenged then-undisputed lineal heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. At that time, Klitschko, alongside his brother Vitali, dominated the heavyweight boxing landscape, holding all major world titles. While such a crossover event was unprecedented and garnered little serious attention over a decade ago, the current climate, significantly influenced by Jake Paul and Ngannou’s boxing endeavors, has made such matchups far more plausible and commercially viable.
Dos Santos openly admits his preference for boxing over MMA, citing the complexities of preparing for mixed martial arts. As a predominantly stand-up fighter, he finds the constant threat of takedowns and kicks in MMA "annoying," as it forces him to diversify his training beyond his core strength.
His current opponent, Robelis Despaigne, presents a challenge that aligns with dos Santos’s striking preference. Despaigne, a Cuban Olympic Taekwondo bronze medalist, transitioned to MMA with a pristine 5-0 professional record, all wins coming via knockout, four of them in the first minute. Standing at 6 feet 7 inches with an imposing reach, Despaigne is known for his explosive power and dynamic striking.
"I like more what Robelis brings to the table," dos Santos commented on the matchup. "I think the fight will be more exciting for the event and for the fans. He’s a very lengthy fighter and obviously he’s going to present some difficulties for me. He’s fast for his size, works his straight punches really well, but I think this is the kind of fight people love to watch, two giants, size-wise, hitting each other and trying to knock each other out."
Dos Santos, despite his desire for pure boxing, remains pragmatic about MMA. He recounted a recent bare-knuckle bout where, after breaking his nose, he adapted his strategy by taking Alan Belcher to the ground and working from there, demonstrating his readiness to employ all facets of MMA when necessary. He views this as a "smart path," rather than an "easier path," emphasizing tactical flexibility in combat.
His upcoming fight on Netflix holds a symbolic significance for dos Santos, mirroring his groundbreaking UFC on FOX debut in 2011. He sees MVP’s entry into combat sports, backed by the global reach of Netflix, as a potential disruptor to the UFC’s long-standing dominance.
"I don’t think there’s ever really been anyone capable of competing with the UFC since they took over the scene," dos Santos observed. "Them entering the game the way they are, I think that’s extremely beneficial. Obviously not for the UFC promoters. When you have control, when you’re the dominant player, the one running everything, obviously that has its value, but it also means you need to keep controlling everything, especially the athletes."
He elaborated on the positive implications of increased competition, particularly for fighter compensation and autonomy. "When one side starts doing things better than the other, the other side speeds up to improve too, and that competition makes everything better," he said. "The world is what it is today because of that. I see it very positively and I truly hope they’re here to stay and make a real difference, especially in the lives of the athletes."
Dos Santos also praised MVP’s adherence to the boxing contractual model, which typically involves one-fight deals. This contrasts sharply with the UFC’s practice of securing athletes on multi-fight, long-term contracts, which can restrict their ability to negotiate terms or explore other opportunities.
"In the UFC, those long-term deals are possible because they maintain a huge level of control over the athletes, so you kind of get stuck in that situation for a while," dos Santos explained. "Boxing is different. Every fight is its own thing. If you lose, your stock drops. If you win, your stock rises. In every next fight you reap the rewards of victory, just like you also deal with the consequences of defeat. I think that’s very capitalist, let’s say. You reap what you sow. I think it’s a really cool format."
His excitement extends to the broader concept of combat sports crossovers, which MVP actively promotes. "I’m very excited about the possibilities of this crossover they’re doing between boxing, MMA, and even other sports," he concluded. "I also hope they keep pushing hard into MMA because Netflix is a global powerhouse, they dominate worldwide in a very significant way, and I think MMA being part of that is also extremely important."
As Junior dos Santos prepares for his MVP debut, the fight against Robelis Despaigne carries weight far beyond a single victory. It is a calculated step in a veteran’s journey to redefine his career, leverage his legacy, and pursue long-held boxing ambitions in an evolving combat sports landscape shaped by new players and unprecedented media partnerships. His performance on May 16 will undoubtedly be scrutinized, not just for its outcome, but for its potential to unlock the next chapter in the storied career of "Cigano."
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