The UFC’s heavyweight division has seen its fair share of “next big thing” prospects. However, few arrived with as much raw potential as Robelis Despaigne. The Cuban striker burst onto the scene like a wrecking ball, carrying an undefeated record and the kind of highlight-reel knockouts that make matchmakers salivate. Yet just seven months after his UFC debut, the man dubbed the “next Francis Ngannou” became perhaps the shortest-lived hype train in recent memory.
When Despaigne first stepped into the UFC octagon, he seemed to justify all the buzz. The heavyweight prospect needed just twenty seconds to turn Josh Parisian’s lights out in March 2024. But as the old saying goes, everyone has a plan until they meet someone who knows how to wrestle. The glaring holes in Despaigne’s ground game quickly transformed him from the division’s boogeyman into its cautionary tale.
At 36 years old, ‘Big Boy‘ now faced a crossroads that’s all too familiar in combat sports. His fearsome power and extraordinary speed for a heavyweight made him too dangerous for most regional circuit fighters. However, his underdeveloped ground game left him exposed at the sport’s highest level.
For Despaigne, the road back to the UFC will require more than just adding a few submission defenses to his arsenal. With only four pre-UFC fights under his belt, he would need to embrace the grinding journey that most fighters endure before reaching the big show. But the clock may be ticking on the 36-year-old’s career.
Fight Fans React To Robelis Despaigne’s Removal From The UFC
The news of Robelis Despaigne’s departure from the UFC hit social media like a perfectly timed counterpunch. The Cuban heavyweight’s release, confirmed by UFC Roster Watch, triggered a digital discourse. This perfectly encapsulated the ruthless nature of fight sports—one minute, you’re the next big thing, and the next, you’re trending for all the wrong reasons.
Social media erupted with fans offering their typically unfiltered takes on Robelis Despaigne’s short-lived UFC career. Some lamented his dismissal from the UFC, citing untapped potential. Others, however, were in agreement with UFC’s decision to release him from the roster. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans:
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
The whole situation serves as a reminder that in the age of social media, a fighter’s career trajectory becomes public property. For Ribelis Despaigne, these reactions might sting, but they also point to something encouraging. Despite his quick exit from the UFC, fans haven’t written him off completely.
Also Read: 40 Year Old Rafael Dos Anjos Releases Statement About His Career After Brutal Knee Injury At UFC 308
