Cuban combat sports phenom Robelis “El Big Boy” Despaigne is taking his talents to the growing sport of Karate Combat, signing a contract with the league’s heavyweight division. Known for his explosive knockout power, Despaigne will bring his taekwondo skills and striking to the high-octane world of Karate Combat, a league that is quickly gaining traction among combat sports fans.
The announcement came directly from Karate Combat’s Instagram, where the promotion revealed: “We’ve signed @thebigboyufc to our heavyweight division and he’ll be making his KC51 debut soon. Robelis has an incredible record, with most of his wins coming in the first round.” knockouts. As an Olympic taekwondo medalist, he will surely bring something unique to the Karate Combat pit.”
The move comes after Despaigne’ s brief stint in the UFC, where his promising start was marred by inconsistency. After a stunning first round knockout over Josh Parisian at UFC 299, many thought Despaigne was on the verge of breaking through in the UFC. However, back-to-back losses to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane led to his departure from the promotion. Despite the setbacks, Despaigne’s immense talent, highlighted by his 87-inch reach and knockout power, did not go unnoticed.
Despaigne’ s switch to Karate Combat seems like a natural progression, as the league places less emphasis on grappling and more on striking, which aligns with his strengths as a former taekwondo champion. With a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics in his taekwondo career, Despaigne’ s transition to mixed martial arts in 2019 showed his potential to dominate standing exchanges.
Now, under the Karate Combat banner, “El Big Boy” has the opportunity to redefine his career. Fans eagerly await his debut in the pit, where his explosive knockout power could fit perfectly with the promotion’s dynamic style.
Stay tuned for more updates as Despaigne prepares for his first fight in Karate Combat.
