MVP ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ Medical suspensions: Ex-UFC champ gets indefinite layoff

Junior dos Santos, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has been sidelined indefinitely following a devastating first-round knockout loss at Most Valuable Promotions' "Rousey vs. Carano" event. The Brazilian veteran was stopped by Robelis Despaigne just 2:59 into their main card bout at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Dos Santos' medical suspension reflects the severity of his knockout loss. The California State Athletic Commission has imposed a mandatory 45-day suspension with a 30-day no-contact period, and the former heavyweight king will require neurological clearance before he can return to active competition. This indefinite medical layoff means dos Santos cannot resume fighting until he passes the required evaluations and receives medical approval to do so.

The loss marked dos Santos' first appearance since winning the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA heavyweight crown in March 2024, when he defeated Alan Belcher by stoppage. The knockout at MVP MMA signals a difficult chapter in the later stages of his career, as the fighter faces both the physical recovery required after a significant head injury and the regulatory requirements mandated by athletic commissions. Such indefinite medical suspensions are standard protocol in MMA following serious knockout losses, ensuring fighter safety remains the priority before returning to the cage.