SUMMARY
- Even before setting foot inside the Octagon, an MMA upstart has broken an age-old record.
- Following his signing with the UFC, Robelis Despaigne has broken the record for the longest reach in the UFC.
The UFC has seen some of the most talented athletes in the sport during their 30-year run. In that time, fans have witnessed athletes achieve milestones and set records that have withstood the test of time. However, even before setting foot inside the Octagon, Robelis Despaigne has broken an age-old record.
For the most part, a fighter’s reach is a big characteristic that is often taken into account in their fights. Allowing a fighter to stay at range and pick off opponents, reach is often instrumental to a fighter’s style as well. As for the UFC, fans have seen some genetically gifted fighters blessed with gargantuan reach.
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Following his signing with the UFC, Robelis Despaigne has broken the record for the longest reach in the UFC. Standing at a massive 6 feet 7 in, the Cuban fighter has a reach of 2.2 m or 87 inches. Prior to Despaigne’s arrival at the UFC, the active record was held by Jon Jones from 2008, who had a reach of 2.15 m, or 84 and a half inches. Notably, Dan Christison was the fighter who held the record for the longest reach in UFC history at 85 inches in 2006.
Thus, having already etched his name in the history books, there is a lot of hype behind this new prospect. Owing to his emergence late last year, fans have been patiently biding the time for his debut. However, at the same time, there will be fans who may not be too aware of this new fighter. As such, let’s take a deeper look into who Robelis Despaigne is and why he is a force to be reckoned with.
Robelis Despaigne’s record, stats, and next fight
For those unaware, Robelis Despaigne is a Cuban MMA fighter who has recently transitioned from taekwondo to MMA. Previously, Despaigne made a name for himself when he won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the 177 lbs weight class. Not only that, but he is also a two-time bronze medalist in the World Championships, in 2013 and 2015.
All things considered, Robelis has had a short MMA career so far, spanning only four fights. However, at that time, the Cuban made a big name for himself owing to his electric finishes. Starting off his career at Titan FC against Katuma Mulumba, the 35-year-old dispatched his opponent within the very first round. Following a move to Fury FC, ‘The Big Boy‘ garnered a lot of attention after securing three back-to-back first-round knockouts in his next three fights.
Robelis Despaigne will fight Josh Parisian at #UFC299 on March 9th. #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2024 pic.twitter.com/b0Vw4R1lsk
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) January 9, 2024
However, the alarming detail behind his three finishes was that they all occurred within 19 seconds, combined. Following his latest win over Miles Banks, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard immediately swooped in to sign the fighter. In what was likely a first in the sport of MMA, Despaigne was signed to the UFC a mere 10 minutes after his victory over Banks. With that said, it was no surprise that the fans have been very happy with this signing.
Soon thereafter, it was revealed that Robelis would make his UFC debut against Josh Parisian at UFC 299. Already one of the most stacked cards of the year, enthusiasts were left overjoyed with the news. Naturally, owing to his capabilities and achievements, there is a lot of expectation and potential for Despaigne. Whether the big man will deliver on it, only time will tell.