Robelis Despaigne recently triumphed in a fierce battle between former UFC fighters. The Cuban knockout specialist has been on an impressive streak, delivering multiple knockouts following a less successful UFC career.
Despaigne, known as “The Big Boy,” had a strong start at UFC 299 with an 18-second knockout but then lost his subsequent two bouts. The 2012 Olympic Taekwondo bronze medalist was released from the UFC after his grappling weaknesses were exploited by Waldo Cortez Acosta and Austin Lane. Since his UFC exit, Despaigne has been competing at a rapid pace outside the Octagon, most recently continuing this momentum in Florida.
Under the Karate Combat banner, Despaigne has flourished, adding a championship to his achievements. After rebounding from his UFC setbacks with a series of quick knockouts in his Karate Combat debut and follow-up fights, he won five matches this year and claimed the Last Man Standing tournament title in July. This victory paved the way for a heavyweight title shot.
At Karate Combat 58, after a significant delay, Despaigne faced former UFC fighter Sam Alvey, who was attempting a comeback after holding the longest winning streak in UFC history. However, Alvey’s run ended controversially when Despaigne delivered a brutal head kick KO in the second round. The fight’s conclusion was contentious as the referee chose not to stop the match despite Alvey appearing unable to continue, ultimately allowing Despaigne to secure the win and the heavyweight title.
Notably, Despaigne trained with current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira shortly before his latest Karate Combat bout. Pereira, standing 6’7″ like Despaigne, plans to move up to heavyweight in 2026 after reclaiming the light heavyweight title and is even eyeing a superfight with Jon Jones. Their training sessions could play a crucial role in preparing Pereira for his upcoming division change and potential headline bouts.
Dana White has yet to confirm whether Jones will be cleared for the anticipated superfight, amid concerns over Jones’ reliability. Meanwhile, UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira might face an interim heavyweight title fight if contender Tom Aspinall isn’t ready to return soon, according to predictions by Josh Thomson.
Fan Take: This resurgence of Robelis Despaigne highlights how fighters can reinvent themselves post-UFC, bringing fresh excitement to the combat sports scene outside traditional MMA. His rise and connections with top stars like Alex Pereira could shake up future heavyweight competitions and rewrite the sport’s evolving narratives.
