UFC re-signs Robelis Despaigne after Karate Combat tear

The UFC has brought back heavyweight striker Robelis Despaigne following a dominant run across two promotions that saw him rack up seven straight knockouts in less than a year.

First Round Management announced Friday that Despaigne has inked a new deal with the promotion, per Sherdog. The 37-year-old Cuban left the UFC after going 1-1 in 2024 but immediately tore through Karate Combat's heavyweight division, stopping five opponents in a combined 44 seconds of fight time. He claimed the organization's heavyweight strap in December by head-kicking Sam Alvey.

Despaigne stopped dos Santos at MVP MMA debut

Despaigne returned to MMA in May at the inaugural MVP promotion event, where he knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in the first round. That finish marked his sixth opening-frame stoppage across six career wins and cleared the path for his UFC return.

The 6-foot-7 ex-kickboxer has no opponent or date set for his comeback fight. All six of Despaigne's victories have ended inside the opening round, including a four-second knockout of Dominik Jedrzejczyk and a one-night Karate Combat tournament sweep that featured three stoppages.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC re-signs hulking heavyweight after recent crushing knockout victory