Robelis Despaigne (5-0) has a big opportunity at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento. The Cuban MMA fighter can put the heavyweight division on notice with a sound victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta (11-1). After all, you gotta start somewhere. For the “Big Boy”, the time is now to capitalize on his “Big” opportunity.
Coming off the heels of a great UFC 301 card, charismatic, entertaining fighters got their start in the spotlight here. Whether it was a spunky Caio Borralho or an upstart Steve Erceg, the card provided a platform for tomorrow’s fighters to impact the UFC fight scene.
Despaigne’s opportunity comes this Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. So what does the Cuban’s fight profile look like? What are the best attributes that make him a challenge?
The Tape on Robelis Despaigne
Robelis Despaigne is a fairly raw fighter in the UFC, with his first match coming against Josh Parisian. However, the “Big Boy” finished off Parisian 18 seconds into the first round. The overall sequence was wild, with Despaigne felling his opponent.
One takeaway from that fight is the Cuban heavyweight remains unpolished in the octagon. While he did land a quick first-round knockout of Parisian, he left himself vulnerable during his early onslaught.
That was because his kick was off-balance, leaving him open to a Parisian barrage. With a lower kick, he could’ve ended the fight even quicker. If a more experienced fighter such as Jon Jones fought against Despaigne, the fight would be immediately over. “The Big Boy” must polish up on his technique and strike better.
Robelis Despaigne’s Strengths
But that doesn’t mean Robelis Despaigne is a bad fighter. In life, a person doesn’t expect to nail something on the first try. Instead, they practice their craft until they become a force. For the heavyweight, all he needs is some polishing and his striking can become deadly.
That’s especially true since he hits hard. In that Parisian fight, he knocked out his opponent with one blow after he came after Despaigne. The Cuban fighter’s power is a testament to how practicing his form and technique can make him a heavyweight threat.
If Despaigne wins his fight against Cortes-Acosta on Saturday, UFC fans will be put on notice. Not only that, but the heavyweight division will begin to notice “The Big Boy.” A more polished “Big Boy” is a scary thing for the UFC, especially if he can concentrate his frightening power into lethal blows.
More must-reads: