6'7" Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Robelis Despaigne Lands A KO Just 18 Seconds Into His UFC Debut

ROBELIS DESPAIGNE IS FOR REAL!! DON'T BLINK WHEN THIS DUDE FIGHTS!!

As my headline mentions - Robelis Despaigne is a 6-foot-7 heavyweight prospect from Cuba who made his UFC debut in Miami tonight. He was only 4-0 coming into tonight, but very highly touted as a guy to watch - not only because of his tale-of-the-tape stats (like an 87in reach, the longest in company history) but because his last three fights lasted a combined 19 seconds....

It kinda felt like Josh Parisian (on a two-fight skid) was a sacrificial lamb for him coming into this card - and Despaigne only took 18 seconds to prove that was true.

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I dunno what was crazier, the knockout on the backtrack (Stipe/Werdum style) or the balls on Parisian to charge at Despaigne like he did. Respect on the attempt, I guess? It seemed like he complained about the stoppage afterwards, as well - but I thought it was fine.

BONUS BLOG: Before I could even publish the Robelis Despaigne blog, Michel Pereira vs Michał Oleksiejczuk came and went.

First of all - Michel Pereira had a full on dance routine before his walkout….

(Pereira was a dance teacher in Japan before he was in the UFC)

….and then he went in there and starched Oleksiejczuk in just over a minute!

I think the move back up to 185 was clearly the right call for Pereira - and I am continually impressed by the fighter he has turned into; from the gimmicky backflip guy to a legit threat at middleweight. These prelims rule.