Robelis Despaigne made his UFC debut at UFC 299 against Josh Parisian. The Cuban taekwondo specialist was billed as one of the most exciting new heavyweights in the UFC. He showed why on his debut with a devastating knockout win.
Desapaigne is an Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo. He won the Olympic medal in 2012 and decided that he wanted to change sports. ‘The Big Boy’ was advised to move to MMA. He began his MMA training in 2019 but could not make his pro debut due to delays related to the pandemic.
The Cuban fighter finally made his debut after moving to Florida. In June 2022, he fought in Titan FC and won his debut fight via a first round KO after over 4:50 minutes. That, however, became the last time he crossed 12 seconds in a fight before his UFC debut. After his pro-MMA debut, he fought thrice and finished them in 12, 3, and 4 seconds respectively.
ONE AND DONE 🤯
Robelis Despaigne gets the KO just 18 seconds into round one! #UFC299 pic.twitter.com/Pr2dcKaKK0
— UFC (@ufc) March 10, 2024
In his interview with the UFC before his debut, he expressed a desire to continue his first-round KO streak. That is exactly what he did. At UFC 299 in the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, Despaigne, with the largest reach recorded in the UFC Octagon, came off the blocks with his hands wide apart. Parisian was thrown into the defensive just because of how Despaigne hunted him down.
After a head kick attempt, Robelis Despaigne fell down. However, he had connected enough for Parisian to not be able to capitalize. ‘The Big Boy’ got up and brawled with Parisian until the American fighter fell and the stoppage was called. Despaigne’s hard-hitting masterclass was on show for the UFC world as he delivered on his first-round KO promise. He finished the fight in 18 seconds.
Fans and fighters react to Robelis Despaigne knocking out Josh Parisian in 18 seconds
Several fans and fighters reacted to the big knockout win of the new UFC heavyweight. UFC welterweight fighter Stephen Thompson took to X and wrote, “Aaaaaand it over. Robelis is going to be a problem! #UFC299”
Aaaaaand it over. Robelis is going to be a problem! #UFC299
— “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) March 10, 2024
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling also took to X to give his reaction. He wrote, “Will Robelis ever get out of the first RD?? Wild to think! The future is promising for him.”
Will Robelis ever get out of the first RD?? Wild to think! The future is promising for him.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 10, 2024
One fan called for a title shot for the Cuban already and wrote, “I say title shot right now might as well.” Another fan was skeptical about his age. They wrote, “He’s 35 though, cant see him sticking around too long. Will be exciting none the less.”
With Despaigne’s history with combat sports there is no doubt about his athletic abilities. He has also expressed a desire to jump in the UFC heavyweight rankings by fighting regularly. The UFC also posted about his 18-second KO being the second fastest finish for a UFC debutant. ‘The Bad Boy’ has a promising future ahead of him in the UFC and it will be a joy to watch.