Robelis Despaigne has been re-signed by the UFC after Karate Combat and MVP MMA fights
Striking savant Robelis Despaigne is back in the UFC after his impressive performances in Karate Combat and MVP MMA.
Robelis Despaigne has reportedly re-signed with the UFC, per his management.
The development comes in the aftermath of the Cuban combatant's string of incredible victories in Karate Combat as well as his recent mixed martial arts win at the inaugural MVP MMA event.
Striking extraordinaire Robelis Despaigne went 1-2 in his first UFC stint
Robelis Despaigne has earned widespread laudation for his striking prowess in the combat sports realm. "The Big Boy" notched a bronze medal in the 80+ kg category in the sport of Taekwondo at the 2012 London Olympics.
Additionally, he went on to commence MMA training in the ensuing years, eventually making his debut in the sport in 2022. He joined the UFC with a professional mixed martial arts record of 4-0.
His maiden UFC fight witnessed him defeat Josh Parisian via TKO in March of 2024. He, however, suffered consecutive defeats in his next octagon outings. The 6'7" striking phenom was beaten by Waldo Cortes-Acosta in May of that year and by Austen Lane that October, both by way of unanimous decision.
Despaigne was released by the UFC thereafter. He was reported to have signed with the GFL (Global Fight League) that year, and he was en route to facing UFC veteran Todd Duffee in the promotion's inaugural event in 2025.
But the GFL has yet to put forth a fight card, so his stint in that promotion didn't see him compete in any fights. Well, Despaigne instead took his talents to pro full-contact karate competition in Karate Combat.
Robelis Despaigne has been re-signed by the UFC after captivating fight fans in Karate Combat and MVP MMA 1
A number of fans pointed out that Robelis Despaigne's UFC losses were due to his being out-grappled, asserting that his grappling skill set wasn't on par with his high-level striking arsenal.
Despaigne, after his UFC exit, debuted in Karate Combat in December of 2024. He amassed a record of 7-0 in the organization, notably winning the eight-man one-night "Last Man Standing" tournament last year. His most recent fight there saw him KO UFC veteran Sam Alvey last December, capturing the Karate Combat heavyweight belt.
Moreover, Despaigne's most recent professional combat sports contest marked his return to MMA for the first time since his UFC exit. The 37-year-old faced former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos at MVP MMA 1 back in May, wherein he scored a thunderous KO victory against "Cigano."
Despaigne, who's known to be managed by the Malki Kawa-founded First Round Management, now appears to have joined the UFC MMA organization once again. An Instagram post put forth by the official First Round Management handle comprised a statement that read:
"After a first round KO on @netflix Robelis Despaigne @thebigboyfighter is officially signed back into the @ufc. DONT BLINK!!"
Check out the post made by First Round Management concerning Robelis Despaigne's UFC re-signing below:
