The UFC’s heavyweight division does not have many stars. Which is surprising given the immense, fight-ending power that heavyweights carry in their hands. With Francis Ngannou out and Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones‘ retirements on the horizon, it will be even more depleted in the near future.

Which is why the promotion has signed Cuban heavyweight phenom Robelis Despaigne to its roster despite him only having fought in four professional MMA fights and being 36 years old. The main reason behind this is the Cuban’s potential to be the next big thing in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Which medal did Robelis Despaigne win at the Olympics?

Robelis Despaigne was born in the Cuban metropolis of Santiago de Cuba. He took up martial arts at the age of nine and found a lot of success. Within seven years of beginning his martial arts journey, he had managed to carve a place for himself on the Cuban national taekwondo team.

And Despaigne would go on to be a feature of the national team for the next fifteen years and have a distinguished taekwondo career representing Cuba. The highlight of his taekwondo career, however, was his 2012 bronze medal win at the London Olympics.

In addition to his Olympic glory, Despaigne has also represented Cuba in various international tournaments, including the World Championships, where he has won two bronze medals in 2015 and 2017. And it seems this championship pedigree has helped him transition seamlessly to MMA, where he has emerged as one of the most promising up-and-coming prospects.

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Robelis Despaigne’s impressive MMA career

After his storied taekwondo career, Robeslis Despaigne decided to transition to mixed martial arts, reportedly over discontent with how sports were being run in Cuba. And the Cuban has made an impact on the spot right away, notching up four quick wins within one year.

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The manner in which he won was even more impressive and has won him a contract with the world’s biggest and most popular MMA promotion. The Cuban has knocked out every opponent he has faced so far in the first round.

This is why he is being seen as a potential star in the heavyweight division if he manages to live up to the hype. All eyes are now on his UFC 299 clash against Josh Parisian, which will be most fans’ first look at the dynamic and exciting heavyweight. The Cuban is expected to win the fight and is the betting favorite going into the fight. However, as we are reminded again and again, strange things can happen in mixed martial arts, especially at heavyweight, where one punch can end the fight.

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