While it took Robelis Despaigne a little more than four seconds to get his second win under the Karate…
While it took Robelis Despaigne a little more than four seconds to get his second win under the Karate Combat banner, the Cuban knockout artist delivered another memorable performance inside The Pit at KC52 on Friday night.
In December, ‘The Big Boy’ made a statement in his promotional debut with a four-second KO against Dominik J?drzejczyk. This time, Despaigne needed roughly 10 seconds to dispatch Brazilian newcomer Marcos Brigagao in Miami.
Official Result: Robelis Despaigne def. Marcos Brigago via KO.
With the win, Despaigne moves to 2-0 in Karate Combat with both of his fights combined lasting less than 20 seconds. Outside of KC, he is 5-2 in his mixed martial arts career, his only two defeats coming in the UFC.
Check Out highlights from Robelis Despaigne vs. Marcos Brigagao at karate combat 52:
Alex Pereira’s sister has to juggle two careers as she works to make ends meet while chasing her dream in combat sports. Much like her brother, “Poatan,” Aline carved out a career in kickboxing before making the jump to MMA, though she remains a relative newcomer to the sport. Following her debut loss, she has […]
Alex Pereira’s sister has to juggle two careers as she works to make ends meet while chasing her dream in combat sports.
Much like her brother, “Poatan,” Aline carved out a career in kickboxing before making the jump to MMA, though she remains a relative newcomer to the sport. Following her debut loss, she has been working to find her footing, posting a 1-2 record under the LFA banner between 2022 and 2023.
Pereira is now signed with Karate Combat, where she made an explosive promotional debut in October 2024, securing a first-round left hook knockout over Dee Begley that echoed her brother’s iconic finish.
Two Pereiras for the price of one – and a devastating left hook KO.
KC50 saw Aline Pereira make her pit debut with a stunning finish in classic Pereira style.
Aline returns to the pit for the KC52 co-main event to face Gisela Luna!
While the pay in Karate Combat provides a considerable financial boost compared to her kickboxing and MMA days, the 34-year-old Brazilian acknowledges that she must grind through a part-time job when she’s not fighting, putting in long hours to supplement her income.
During a recent conversation with MMA Fighting, Pereira opened up about balancing her fight career with her work as an Amazon delivery driver. When she’s not in fight camp, she takes on late-night shifts to make ends meet, all while working toward building a career that will provide a comfortable life for her family in the United States.
She explained that the reason for her early start is to beat the traffic, allowing her the freedom to dedicate the rest of her day to training.
“I do deliveries for Amazon, and we do what we have to do,” Pereira said. “This routine is very tiresome because we still have to accommodate the training hours and the job, but it all works out in the end… It’s not [not an] easy [job]. We do deliveries for four and a half hours. But it’s great to be here. The United States is very good for me and my son, too.”
Aline Pereira hopes to quit delivering for Amazon for full-time fighting career pic.twitter.com/TgjEBBpiUT
Pereira is set to make her sophomore appearance in the Karate Combat Pit this Friday in Miami, Florida, where she’ll face a short-notice opponent in Amanda Torres for a 130-pound catchweight bout.
Her brother, meanwhile, was not too pleased at the reporter whom Aline made mention of her job to. The UFC champion took aim at MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz in a social media post.
Alex Pereira goes off on reporter Guilherme Cruz who revealed that his sister, Aline Pereira, is working a second job as an Amazon driver: pic.twitter.com/VL76L9rV59
Robelis Despaigne made his Karate Combat debut last night and instantly broke records by producing the fastest knockout in the history of the promotion. The towering Cuban took just four seconds to secure his first win by dropping Dominik J?drzejczyk with a huge overhand right. Karate Combat 51 in Miami was Despaigne’s combat sports return […]
Robelis Despaigne made his Karate Combat debut last night and instantly broke records by producing the fastest knockout in the history of the promotion. The towering Cuban took just four seconds to secure his first win by dropping Dominik J?drzejczyk with a huge overhand right.
Karate Combat 51 in Miami was Despaigne’s combat sports return following his UFC departure earlier this year. The devastating striker arrived in the Octagon with an MMA record of 4-0 with previous knockout wins in both four and three seconds.
His career in the UFC was off to a flying start at UFC 299, which also took place in Miami, as he finished Josh Parisian in 18 seconds to earn a performance of the night bonus. Following that, he lost back-to-back fights to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane in outings that exposed some of the limits in his overall skillset for MMA.
After being cut from the roster, it seemed obvious that Karate Combat would be the perfect home for the 36-year old who was always going to struggle in UFC bouts that featured a lot of grappling. The 6’7” heavyweight is once again off to an electric start in his new home following his show-stealing finish over J?drzejczyk.
Watch the knockout via Karate Combat on X with the promotion making the video their pinned post.
FASTEST KO IN KARATE COMBAT HISTORY BY ROBELIS DESPAIGNE
The Olympics, the UFC, and now Karate Combat get to experience Robelis Despaigne. Starting his journey in taekwondo at…
The Olympics, the UFC, and now Karate Combat get to experience Robelis Despaigne. Starting his journey in taekwondo at just nine years old, Despaigne dedicated 15 years to Cuba’s national team. His career highlight came at the 2012 London Olympics, where he secured a bronze medal in the +80 kg category.
Robelis Despaigne
Despite his Olympic success, Robelis Despaigne grew disillusioned with the state of sports in Cuba and pivoted to mixed martial arts in 2019. Seeking greater opportunities, he relocated to Orlando, Florida, in 2022. It didn’t take long for the heavyweight to make waves in MMA—he won his first five professional bouts via first-round knockouts, establishing himself as a rising star.
The UFC took notice, signing him in December 2023. Robelis Despaigne’s promotional debut at UFC 299 on March 9, 2024, was nothing short of spectacular: an 18-second knockout of Josh Parisian earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. However, his UFC tenure proved brief. Subsequent losses to Waldo Cortes-Acosta in May 2024 and Austen Lane in October 2024 led to his release.
Undeterred, Despaigne quickly transitioned to Karate Combat, signing with the promotion in November 2024. Karate Combat appears to be a natural fit for the former Olympic medalist as he embarks on the next chapter of his career. In an exclusive interview with Robelis Despaigne, we discuss his career and Karate Combat. He will be making his debut on Thursday, December 19 at Karate Combat 51, live on YouTube at 6pm ET.
.@thebigboyufc aka Robelis Despaigne is getting ready for his debut fight inside the Karate Combat pit at KC51.
Don’t miss it when Robelis debuts at KC51 in Miami!
What initially drew you to Taekwondo, and how did it shape your early life in Cuba?
I really love practicing taekwondo because I like martial arts movies.
Winning an Olympic bronze medal is an incredible achievement. What do you remember most about that experience in London 2012?
It was something unforgettable, very dreamed of and very worked on. I remember feeling it as the greatest dream of every athlete.
After such a long and successful Taekwondo career, what motivated you to transition to MMA, and how challenging was it to adapt to the new discipline?
It was quite a challenge to adapt, especially because of the floor work, but I really like it and I’m willing to work hard to become the biggest heavyweight in the world.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from your UFC stint, both in victories and in defeats?
I learned that all the work is little compared to how hard an MMA fighter must work and I am willing to work even harder and achieve my return to UFC.
How did the UFC experience prepare you for the next phase of your combat sports career in Karate Combat?
I think having had the privilege of being in the UFC, which is such a big company, prepares you for any scenario. I’m ready for a great show. I thank Karate Combat for this opportunity and I’m here for my belt.
Karate Combat has a unique rule set and presentation. How have you adjusted your training to fit this style?
I love this style of fighting. I am very excited to be here at Karate Combat. I always followed these events and said I would like to fight here. God’s plan is perfect and I am going all out for my first KO in Karate Combat.
What are your goals in Karate Combat, both short-term and long-term?
To be the Super Heavyweight Champion.
As someone who has competed in multiple disciplines, what advice would you give to young martial artists looking to transition between sports?
Don’t be afraid of change, in the end it’s a fight all the same. And the challenge is fun.
Cuban athletes often face unique challenges when competing internationally. What has your experience been, and what message would you share with aspiring Cuban athletes?
I hope you enjoy the process and continue working hard to raise the name of Cuba.
Let’s build the perfect fighter. In your mind who has the best kicks? The Best Punches? Best Speed? And the best power?
The best kicks: Robelis Despaigne The Best Punches: Alex Pereira. Best Speed: Ryan Garcia. The best power: Francis Ngannou.
France’s Jade Jorand just earned an impactful debut in Karate Combat and is looking to collect organization gold in…
France’s Jade Jorand just earned an impactful debut in Karate Combat and is looking to collect organization gold in 2025. Speaking in an interview with LowKickMMA, ‘The Princess; outlines her past and also future goals.
Jade Jorand
Growing up, Jade Jorand tried every sport imaginable but simply did not excel in any of them. But she found her calling at the age of nine with kickboxing. She explained:
“It’s true! I did all kinds of dance and tennis, but I was so bad. My dad did kickboxing, so my parents had me try it when I was nine. They also wanted me to learn self-defense since I was starting middle school and taking the bus alone. At first, I was bad at that too and really scared. But two or three years later, my coach told me I was going to fight. I was like, “What? Me?” But I won, and after that, I wanted to keep winning.”
She collected European titles under both Muay Thai and K-1 kickboxing rules. The first professional match for ‘The Princess’ was under Bellator Kickboxing in which she won via incredible head kick knockout. Jade Jorand continued:
“It felt so great—it’s the best memory of my life. I was so stressed because making that fight happen was hard. She was a world champ with over 60 fights, and it was my debut. The French commission even had to write a letter saying I was capable of competing with her. Everyone was telling me, “Just do your best,” and I was like, “What are you talking about? I’m going to win this fight.” When I knocked her out, I felt amazing. It’s still the best memory of my life.”
NASTY head-kick knock out by Jade Jorand against Silvia La Notte at Bellator Kickboxing. pic.twitter.com/r9r78a04RU
Earlier this year she jumped into Karate Combat and won her debut by first round finish. On December 19 at Katate Combat 51, Jade Jorand will take on Saba Nabavinejad in a title eliminator and the winner will fight for gold in 2025. The French striker is looking to take world titles in both Karate Combat and the UFC during her career.
“My dream is to be UFC world champion in the next few years. But for now, my smaller dream is to win the Karate Combat world title. I love fighting there, so I want to enjoy this time while training in jiu-jitsu and MMA. After that, I’ll go for the UFC for sure.”
After more than 20 years and 200 professional bouts, the Muay Thai legend Lerdsila Chumpairtour is getting ready for…
After more than 20 years and 200 professional bouts, the Muay Thai legend Lerdsila Chumpairtour is getting ready for retirement but has one last match left in him. Lerdsila is set to fight on November 14 at Karate Combat: Kickback 3.
Muay Thai Legend Lerdsila
The icon of ‘The Art of Eight Limbs’ Lerdsila has had a tremendous career decorated with illustrious titles. The Thai-born athlete has picked up titles in WLF, WMC, and three Stadium crowns at Rajadamnern. His advice for the next generation of fighters is simple, do what you love. In an exclusive interview, he explained:
“Love Muay Thai, do your best, and fight with heart. Winning or losing doesn’t matter—just do what you love… This is my last fight—20 years in Muay Thai, and this will be the final one… It’s emotional. Muay Thai has been my life, but I’ll still be teaching and passing on the traditions to young fighters. I’ll keep training every day.”
Lerdsila translates to ‘Slippery Eel’ but to his evasive style. The Muay Thai striker is one of the most popular figures in Muay Thai history due to how incredibly skilled he is defensively.
At the Karate CombatKickback 3 event, on November 14, he will be facing Russia’s Turach Novurov, who is a national Kickboxing world champion. The Thai-born athlete is not defensive about his sport and is happy to see Thailand’s national sport be popularized around the world, Lerdsila explained:
“I’m very happy about it. Fifteen or twenty years ago, Muay Thai was only popular in Thailand, but now it’s known worldwide.”