Robelis Despaigne has signed with the UFC for a second time. After going 1-2 in his first UFC stint and being released, Despaigne rebuilt his record with seven consecutive wins in Karate Combat — six by stoppage — and also knocked out Junior dos Santos in an MVP promotion bout.
Robelis Despaigne has signed with the UFC for a second time, the promotion announced on July 24, 2026, bringing back the towering Cuban heavyweight after an impressive rebuilding run outside the organization.
Despaigne, nicknamed "The Big Boy," originally joined the UFC and went 1-2 before being released. Rather than fade from the scene, the 37-year-old responded with seven straight victories, six of which came by stoppage, competing primarily in Karate Combat. He also knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in a bout under the MVP promotion banner — a result that announced his return to relevance in no uncertain terms. Standing six-foot-seven with an 84-inch reach and landing significant strikes at a 59 percent accuracy rate, Despaigne presents a physically daunting puzzle for any heavyweight on the roster.
The man on the receiving end of that knockout, Junior dos Santos, is a decorated veteran of the heavyweight division. "Cigano" holds a career record of 21-9 and built his legacy as one of the sport's most technically refined strikers, averaging 4.49 significant strikes per minute over his UFC career. The 42-year-old Brazilian was a former UFC heavyweight champion, and his name still carries considerable weight, meaning the knockout loss to Despaigne served as a genuine statement result.
Why it matters
- Despaigne's seven-fight win streak, built largely by stoppage, gives him momentum and finishing ability that fits the heavyweight division's high-stakes nature
- The knockout of dos Santos is among the most recognizable wins a returning fighter could put on his resume heading back into the UFC
- At six-foot-seven with a 213 cm reach, Despaigne's physical dimensions create matchup problems that few heavyweights on any roster can fully neutralize
- His UFC database record currently reflects only his previous stint at 5-2, meaning his recent run will need to be factored into how the promotion places him upon his return
