The Cuban fighter Robelis Despaigne He debuted on Saturday in the Extreme Fighting Championship (UFC), with a performance that was as devastating as it was brief: in just 18 seconds he knocked out his opponent.
The "Big Boy" of mixed martial arts He overwhelmingly defeated the American Josh Parisian at the Kaseya Center in Miami, in a fight that was part of the UFC 299 event.
After finishing the fight, Despaigne confessed to being proud of himself and his team, and thanked his teammates, his family in Cuba, his friends, the city of Miami for the support and Cuba.
"Since 2019 it was a dream I had and thank God it became a reality for me to be here in the UFC, in the biggest place in the world," he said after finishing the fight.
The 2.01 meter giant began the duel by attacking Parisian twice with his fist, but when he kicked him he stumbled and fell, although he got up immediately.
He then began to retreat while the American threw punches, but he responded at the same time and in the third counterattack he hit his rival with a right hand directly to the chin, which sent him to the ground so he could not get up again.
Despaigne came into this fight with a mixed martial arts record of 4-0, all won by knockout, the last three of which were in less than 15 seconds.
In the first, in June 2022, it took 4:54 minutes to beat Katuna Malumba. In July 2023, against Travis Gregoire, it took 12 seconds; In September, it was just three seconds against Stevie Payne, and in December, he threw Miles Banks in four seconds.
Born in Santiago de Cuba, in his country Despaigne was a relevant figure in taekwondo, a sport in which he won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, two other bronzes in world championships, and gold at the 2014 Central American Games in Mexico.
"In 2019 I was able to take the leap, forget taekwondo and start doing this," he revealed to AS.
The 35-year-old fighter has not yet been in the United States for two years, where he wanted to settle when "I decided to go all-in on this."
"At the end of my time in taekwondo, the truth is that I was a little bored and unmotivated. My coach left the national team and my friends were retired. I felt in great physical shape but I didn't feel like continuing. MMA gave me "They discovered a new world that has given me the hunger necessary to continue at the highest level," he said.
For his part, Parisian is a veteran who has 23 professional fights to his credit. In The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters edition, held on September 27, 2018, he lost by knockout to another Cuban: Michel Batista.
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