The UFC is giving an Olympic medalist another shot inside the Octagon.
The MMA promotion has officially re-signed Olympic bronze medalist Robelis Despaigne following an impressive run outside the promotion that saw the Cuban striker rattle off eight consecutive victories.
Despaigne’s management team confirmed the news on Friday, although the promotion has yet to announce an opponent or date for his return.
“The Bad Boy” was released by the UFC in late 2024 after compiling a 1-2 record. Despite showcasing explosive striking, including an 18-second knockout of Josh Parisian in his promotional debut, back-to-back losses to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane exposed weaknesses in his grappling and ultimately led to his departure.
Rather than fading from the spotlight, the 37-year-old rebuilt his momentum in spectacular fashion. He joined Karate Combat and captured the promotion’s heavyweight championship after winning seven fights, six of them by knockout, in just over a year.
“The Bad Boy” then returned to mixed martial arts in May, headlining the inaugural MVP MMA event in Inglewood, California. He needed less than three minutes to knock out former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.
Despaigne now returns to the UFC with a 6-2 professional MMA record, having finished all six of his victories by knockout.
