Since being released from the UFC, Robelis Despaigne has compiled an impressive record in Karate Combat with seven victories, including six finishes and four knockouts within the first 20 seconds. Most notably, Despaigne scored a clean knockout over former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. Despite his striking power and massive reach, Despaigne remains a limited fighter with virtually no grappling skills and is already 37 years old. The post suggests his UFC release was a mistake, as he would have continued producing highlight-reel knockouts against lower-tier opponents. His combination of knockout power and physical tools makes him dangerous against any opponent.
Robelis Despaigne has been making a strong case that his UFC release was a missed opportunity, rattling off seven wins in Karate Combat since departing the promotion, highlighted by a clean knockout over former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.
Despaigne, known as "The Big Boy," carries a 5-2-0 record in the UFC's verified database but has thrived in Karate Combat's format, going 7-0 in that organization with six finishes. Four of those victories came within the first 20 seconds, a testament to the kind of immediate, fight-ending power that made him a spectacle during his time in the sport. The 37-year-old Cuban, who trains out of MMA Temple, stands six-foot-seven with an extraordinary 84-inch reach — 213 centimeters — and lands significant strikes at a 59 percent accuracy rate. His grappling, however, is essentially nonexistent, with zero recorded takedowns and no submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a one-dimensional but genuinely dangerous striker.
The most eye-catching result on his recent resume is the knockout of Junior dos Santos, the Brazilian heavyweight who once held the UFC title. Dos Santos, nicknamed "Cigano," is 42 years old and holds a 21-9 career record. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, he built his legacy on sharp, technically refined boxing, averaging 4.49 significant strikes landed per minute during his UFC career. That output speaks to his offensive volume at his peak, but Despaigne's physical advantages and raw power proved too much in their meeting.
Why it matters
- Despaigne's four sub-20-second knockouts in Karate Combat underline how his physical tools translate in a striking-focused ruleset
- His 84-inch reach gives him a seven-inch advantage over dos Santos, a factor that shapes the entire range dynamic of any fight
- With zero grappling output, Despaigne's ceiling remains tied entirely to opponents who engage him on the feet
- The dos Santos win adds a marquee name to his post-UFC record, regardless of where dos Santos stands in his career at 42
