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.
Things have only gone downhill for heavyweight Robelis Despaigne since his victorious UFC debut this past April, culminating in his release from the promotion this week. Despaigne arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year with plenty of hype around him. That was owing to both his Olympic medal-winning success in taekwondo and violent […]
Things have only gone downhill for heavyweight Robelis Despaigne since his victorious UFC debut this past April, culminating in his release from the promotion this week.
Despaigne arrived on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this year with plenty of hype around him. That was owing to both his Olympic medal-winning success in taekwondo and violent start to his MMA career.
Off the back of four straight first-round knockouts that totaled just 37 seconds of cage time, the Cuban powerhouse debuted in the Octagon at UFC 299 in Miami this past March. He made an immediate impact, continuing his brutal run by stopping Josh Parisian in just 18 seconds.
Unfortunately for Despaigne, he peaked early. Two convincing defeats to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane followed, with “The Big Boy’s” expected grappling deficiencies being exposed in both.
And the latest saw Despaigne join six others outside of the organization, the most high-profile of which being top-10 flyweight Matheus Nicolau. The longtime contender had competed in the UFC since 2015, defeating the likes of Louis Smolka, Tim Elliott, Matt Schnell, and Manel Kape.
Elsewhere, Jessica Penna, Tamires Vidal, Vinicius Salvador, Charalampos Grigoriou, and Jesse Butler have all entered free agency.
Cuban MMA standout Robelis Despaigne suffered the first setback of his mixed martial arts career following a lackluster performance…
Cuban MMA standout Robelis Despaigne suffered the first setback of his mixed martial arts career following a lackluster performance at UFC St. Louis.
‘The Big Boy’ entered his Saturday night clash with ‘Salsa Boy’ Waldo Cortes-Acosta with a perfect 5-0 record with all of those wins coming by way of knockout in the opening round. Unfortunately, Despaigne could not deliver another highlight-reel knockout — or much of anything else for that matter.
Looking for another quick finish, Despaigne instead found himself taken down and put on his back for much of the bout. Cortes-Acosta offered little in the way of offense, but his nearly 10 minutes of control time was more than enough to earn him the win on all three judges’ scorecards.
Official Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Robelis Despaigne via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Cortes-Acosta moved to 12-1 in his mixed martial arts career and is 5-1 under the UFC banner.
Check Out Highlights From Robelis Despaigne vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC St. Louis:
Cuban MMA standout Robelis Despaigne suffered the first setback of his mixed martial arts career following a lackluster performance…
Cuban MMA standout Robelis Despaigne suffered the first setback of his mixed martial arts career following a lackluster performance at UFC St. Louis.
‘The Big Boy’ entered his Saturday night clash with ‘Salsa Boy’ Waldo Cortes-Acosta with a perfect 5-0 record with all of those wins coming by way of knockout in the opening round. Unfortunately, Despaigne could not deliver another highlight-reel knockout — or much of anything else for that matter.
Looking for another quick finish, Despaigne instead found himself taken down and put on his back for much of the bout. Cortes-Acosta offered little in the way of offense, but his nearly 10 minutes of control time was more than enough to earn him the win on all three judges’ scorecards.
Official Result: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Robelis Despaigne via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Cortes-Acosta moved to 12-1 in his mixed martial arts career and is 5-1 under the UFC banner.
Check Out Highlights From Robelis Despaigne vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC St. Louis:
Robelis Despaigne is set for his second UFC appearance on Saturday at UFC St. Louis and he already has…
Robelis Despaigne is set for his second UFC appearance on Saturday at UFC St. Louis and he already has his eyes on the heavyweight title.
Despaigne is coming off an 18-second knockout win at UFC 299 in his promotional debut, as the Cuban is just 5-0 with all five wins by first-round KO, and four of the five coming in 18 seconds or less.
Heading into his second UFC fight at UFC St. Louis against Waldo Cortes-Acosta, he already has his eyes on the title and believes he could fight for the belt in 2025.
“Look, if all goes according to plan, I think that by the beginning of next year I’ll be fighting for the UFC heavyweight title, or at least the interim,” Robelis Despaigne told MMA Junkie in Spanish… “For me, that would be a dream to be champion of the UFC, and it would make me proud.”
If Despiagne is going to fight for the heavyweight title in 2025, he will need to get multiple fights this year and likely get a ranked opponent next. But, if he beats Cortes-Acosta it could put him in line for just that.
Robelis Despaigne Shares Prediction For Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
The next heavyweight title fight could very well be Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight title.
It’s a fight many fans have wanted to see for quite some time and if it does come to fruition, Robelis Despaigne believes Aspinall would get his hand raised.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC
“That is a close fight, but if it’s a matter of momentum, I think that Aspinall can pull it off and win the crown,” Despaigne said. “But we know the quality that Jon Jones has, so he can always surprise.”
Regardless of who wins, the goal for Despaigne is to fight for the belt in 2025 and become the UFC heavyweight champion.
The Olympics, the UFC, and now Karate Combat get to experience Robelis Despaigne. Starting his journey in taekwondo at…
Fighter removed: Robelis Despaigne
Cuban MMA standout Robelis Despaigne suffered the first setback of his mixed martial arts career following a lackluster performance…
derrota a Robelis Despaigne por decisión unánime en 
Robelis Despaigne is set for his second UFC appearance on Saturday at UFC St. Louis and he already has…
