Robelis Despaigne Scores Lightning-Fast 7-Second Knockout at Karate Combat 53

Robelis Despaigne continues to prove that Karate Combat is the perfect home for his devastating knockout power. The former UFC heavyweight made his third appearance for the promotion at Karate Combat 53 in Denver, taking on Roggers Souza in a main card bout. After spending just 16 combined seconds in his previous two victories since departing the UFC, Despaigne outdid himself with a jaw-dropping seven-second knockout.

The fight barely got started before it was over. Despaigne landed a crushing first punch that instantly rocked Souza—a shot so clean that the referee could have stepped in right then. However, Souza was given every opportunity to recover, but Despaigne showed pinpoint accuracy with his follow-up punches, leaving the official no choice but to wave it off.

This performance cements Despaigne as one of the most explosive finishers in combat sports. The Cuban knockout specialist initially made waves in the UFC, delivering a spectacular 18-second KO in his debut at UFC 299 in March 2023. However, his next two fights saw him struggle against Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Austen Lane, who both utilized grappling-heavy strategies to neutralize his power.

Now thriving in Karate Combat, Despaigne seems unstoppable. With three fights and three lightning-fast knockouts, he has firmly established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the promotion.