Robelis Despaigne is already thinking about what could come next if he delivers a statement victory this weekend.
The former Olympic bronze medalist returns to MMA on Saturday after parting ways with the UFC in 2024. Despaigne faces former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos on the main card of MVP MMA’s debut event on Netflix at the Intuit Dome in California.
With massive names such as Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano and Francis Ngannou attached to the event, Despaigne understands the opportunity in front of him.
And if everything goes according to plan, he believes a future clash with Ngannou could quickly become one of the biggest heavyweight fights available outside the UFC.
Despaigne Says Ngannou Fight Is Becoming Realistic
Ngannou is also competing on Saturday night, taking on Philipe Lins in another featured heavyweight matchup.
Despaigne admitted the idea of fighting Ngannou was never originally part of his plans. But after hearing growing discussion surrounding the matchup, he now sees the possibility differently.
“I do see the possibility,” Despaigne told Habelmos MMA in Spanish.
“There are people talking about that potential fight, and me possibly facing Francis Ngannou after this fight. If I come out winning in this fight, and he wins his fight, I think it would be a great opportunity for me to let the world know who I am by fighting Francis Ngannou.”
For Despaigne, a win over Dos Santos would instantly raise his profile on a card expected to draw worldwide attention through Netflix’s first MMA event.
Watch the whole interview here
MVP’s Future Could Shape Despaigne’s Next Move
Despaigne revealed that his agreement with MVP only covers this weekend’s appearance, leaving questions about what comes after Saturday night.
Even without future dates officially announced, the Cuban heavyweight expects MVP and Netflix to continue investing in MMA events moving forward.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. We haven’t talked about that,” Despaigne said. “I don’t know if there will be more events. I hope there will be. I think with all the attention this event has been getting, we’ll see more events this year.”
Should both heavyweights secure victories, Despaigne already has ideas for how to elevate a potential fight with Ngannou even further.
“I think if we both win, we could fight each other, maybe with a belt on the line,” Despaigne said. “That would be even better.”
Despaigne is currently a huge favorite over Dos Santos. How will the fight go? Read our full predictions here.