Robelis Despaigne continued his post-UFC knockout streak at Karate Combat 53 on Friday night.
The 6ft 7in heavyweight was kicked out of MMA’s premier promotion following a 1-2 run in the Octagon.
After winning his UFC debut with an impressive 18-second knockout, the Cuban taekwondo star, who won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, was outwrestled in back-to-back decision defeats against Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane.
In October 2024, he was quickly snapped up by Karate Combat after being cut from the UFC roster.
Robelis Despaigne scores 8-second knockout
Robelis Despaigne was known for scoring super quick knockouts before joining the UFC.
Dana White snapped him up after seeing three of his fights end in a combined time of just 19 seconds.
Since leaving the company, Despaigne has returned to laying people out in a matter of seconds.
Roggers Souza, a 15-8 MMA veteran, was the latest unlucky opponent matched up with the 36-year-old.
Despaigne dropped him with the first punch he threw during Karate Combat’s latest event in Denver, Colorado.
Souza fell to his knees from a massive right-hand shot before taking three more big punches and ultimately falling face-first to the canvas.
The referee officially stepped in to call off the fight after eight seconds – but it was really over much sooner.
Despaigne scored the fastest KO in Karate Combat history in four seconds last December.
A month later, he needed just 12 seconds to stop Marcos Brigagão at Karate Combat 52.
What’s next for Robelis Despaigne?
Robelis Despaigne will return to MMA in 2025 after signing with Global Fight League [GFL].
The newly launched team-based MMA promotion drafted him to their Miami squad in January.
Tony Ferguson vs Dillon Danis is the latest in a series of big matchups announced by the promotion.
Despaigne is still without an opponent, but he is expected to make his GFL debut in the next few months.
It seems he plans to keep competing in Karate Combat while he pursues MMA glory with the UFC’s new rival.
“You always look to be on the biggest stages,” Despaigne recently told Hablemos MMA.
“I do like a lot Karate Combat, and I want to win the title in Karate Combat, but the dream has always been to be in the UFC. I already accomplished that, but I want to return and fight MMA, and do reach everything possible that’s in reach.”