Robelis Despaigne to defend Karate Combat title on December 5 while still under UFC contract
Karate Combat's president let slip that UFC heavyweight Robelis Despaigne will defend his KC heavyweight belt in Miami on December 5, a rare striking crossover for a UFC fighter.
UFC heavyweight Robelis Despaigne is set to return to Karate Combat to defend his heavyweight title on December 5 in Miami, even though he re-signed with the UFC this summer and fought in the octagon just a month ago. The news slipped out during a recent Karate Combat broadcast and was first highlighted on Monday, October 19, by KC commentator Ben Davis, who called it "accidental breaking news".
In the clip Davis posted on X, the speaker says: "Robelis is planning to defend his title around December time, December 5th in Miami." Asked whether any details about the opponent could be shared, he adds: "I forgot I wasn't supposed to even say it." Bloody Elbow identified the speaker as Karate Combat president Asim Zaidi. No opponent has been named.
A deal brokered at the re-signing
The obvious question is how a UFC fighter can compete for a rival striking promotion. According to Davis, it was "the deal that UFC and KC brokered upon him being re-signed". He added that Despaigne "is still on the UFC roster, but will participate in KC events when it makes sense (to my knowledge)". Bloody Elbow also reported that, per Davis, the title defense will not affect Despaigne's standing with the UFC. The UFC has not commented publicly, and how many fights Despaigne signed for has not been disclosed.
If it goes ahead, it would be an unusual exception. The UFC has become more relaxed about its fighters competing elsewhere in grappling and wrestling: stars such as Arman Tsarukyan, Khamzat Chimaev and Merab Dvalishvili are ranked in Real American Freestyle's new men's crossover rankings, which RAF released on Monday. A UFC-contracted fighter defending a title in a striking promotion is a different matter. Davis said on X that it was "certainly not something I've ever seen" and suggested it could "maybe" be the start of a trend.
From UFC release to two-promotion champion
Despaigne, 38, spent 15 years on the Cuban national taekwondo team before turning to MMA. He made his UFC debut in March 2024 with an 18-second stoppage of Josh Parisian, but decision losses to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane led to his release in October 2024.
He then rebuilt his career in Karate Combat, going 7-0 and winning the Last Man Standing tournament, according to MMA Junkie. On December 5, 2025, in Miami, he took the heavyweight title from fellow UFC veteran Sam Alvey with a second-round head-kick knockout at Karate Combat 58.
Despaigne returned to MMA in May with a first-round knockout of former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos at MVP's first MMA event on Netflix. His management, First Round Management, announced on July 24 that he had re-signed with the UFC.
His comeback fight came at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on September 19, when he beat Tai Tuivasa by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). It was Tuivasa's eighth straight loss, and it moved Despaigne to 7-2 in MMA.
What we know and what we don't
Confirmed: Despaigne is the reigning Karate Combat heavyweight champion and is under UFC contract. Reported: a title defense on December 5 in Miami, per the Karate Combat broadcast, and a UFC-KC arrangement that allows it, per Davis. Still unknown: his opponent, the full event details and his next UFC booking.
Source: Bloody Elbow: UFC go against the norm to allow heavyweight to fight for title in rival promotion, Ben Davis on X: Robelis Despaigne will be defending his Karate Combat HW title on December 5th (broadcast clip), Ben Davis on X: 'The deal that UFC and KC brokered upon him being re-signed', MMA Fighting: Robelis Despaigne re-signs with UFC after series of knockouts in Karate Combat, MVP MMA, MMA Junkie: Robelis Despaigne re-signs with UFC after first-round KO on Netflix, UFC.com: UFC 331 Van vs Pantoja 2 prelim results, MMA Fighting: Robelis Despaigne knocks out Sam Alvey to win Karate Combat heavyweight title, MMA Junkie: RAF debuts official men's crossover rankings lined with UFC fighters.