Oh boy, Robelis Despaigne’s stepping into the big league with his eyes set on the prize. This heavyweight’s not messing around. He’s aiming for a title shot, believe it or not, within a year of his UFC debut. Now, that’s ambition.
Despaigne? He’s the guy who floored Josh Parisian in just 18 seconds flat during his first UFC show. Next up, he’s facing Waldo Cortes-Acosta this May 11 at UFC on ESPN 56. Despaigne’s pretty confident. A win over Costa and a couple more, and he’s in the title conversation next year.
He told MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, “Look, if all goes according to plan, I think that by the beginning of next year I’ll be fighting for the UFC heavyweight title, or at least the interim.” That’s some confidence right there.
Here’s a kicker – Despaigne has ended all his fights in the first round. His last four fights? They lasted a total of 37 seconds. With Alex Pereira’s rapid climb to double champ, Despaigne’s goal doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
Cortes-Acosta’s no slouch either. He’s bouncing back from his only loss with two straight wins. The heavyweight title scene’s a bit of a puzzle right now. Jon Jones is out with an injury, and there’s no telling when he’ll face Stipe Miocic.
In the meantime, interim champ Tom Aspinall’s eyeing a fight with light heavyweight champ Pereira. But Despaigne thinks Jones will take Miocic, only to possibly lose to Aspinall.
“That is a close fight, but if it’s a matter of momentum, I think that Aspinall can pull it off and win the crown,” Despaigne said. Yet, he knows the caliber of a fighter like Jon Jones. “But we know the quality that Jon Jones has, so he can always surprise.”
So, there you have it. The heavyweight division is buzzing, and Despaigne’s right in the thick of it. Can’t wait to see how this all unfolds.