Robelis Despaigne assures improved ground game ahead of MMA return
Robelis Despaigne promises a more complete ground game in his MMA return vs. Junior Dos Santos at Saturday's MVP MMA.
The last time Robelis Despaigne was seen in MMA, his hype had hit an all-time low. Not long ago, Despaigne (5-2) was considered one of the more interesting prospects in the UFC's heavyweight division. The Cuban entered the sport with multiple international taekwondo medals, including a bronze at the 2012 Olympics.
His start in MMA didn't disappoint. Despaigne scored four vicious, first-round KO finishes before getting the call to the big leagues. He debuted in the UFC in 2024, stopping Josh Perisan in just 18 seconds to win a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
However, Despaigne then dropped unanimous decisions to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austin Lane, which prompted his release from the UFC. He was outgrappled and dominated in both defeats. Almost two years later, Despaigne returns to MMA after dishing out some nasty KO's in Karate Combat.
He makes his return at Saturday's inaugural MVP MMA card against ex-UFC champion Junior Dos Santos. "I never imagined this," Despaigne told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. "I thought I would get the call from PFL or just continue in Karate Combat.