Summary
Poatan focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Even without a fight scheduled in the UFC, Alex Poatan continues training hard and, consequently, making headlines. Recently, the light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg) delivered a brutal knockout to a training partner while visiting the 'Fusion X-cel Performance' gym in Florida (USA), and now he has met his match. On the same day, the Brazilian engaged in a brawl with the giant Robelis Despaigne , who is two meters tall and a former UFC fighter.
In the footage released by Poatan on his official 'Instagram' account last Saturday (29), the training session involving the striking specialists was intense, with several dangerous and powerful attacks. In it, Despaigne lands jabs, crosses and straights on the Brazilian. In turn, Poatan applies his left cross and his straights to the Cuban. The intense activity served as perfect preparation for Robelis, who will challenge Sam Alvey , Karate Combat heavyweight champion and also former UFC fighter, on December 5th.
Who is Despaigne?
Robelis Despaigne , 37, is a striking specialist and a high-level taekwondo practitioner. In fact, the Cuban won a bronze medal in the sport at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2022, the giant began his MMA career and impressed with his devastating knockouts. So much so that, in 2024, he debuted in the UFC and knocked out Josh Parisian in 18 seconds.
However, after losing two fights in a row, being easily neutralized on the ground, Despaigne's time in the UFC came to an end that same year. But the Cuban's bad streak didn't last long. A knockout artist, the giant signed with Karate Combat in 2024 and already has six wins, four of them in seconds. Having won the tournament in July, 'The Big Boy', undefeated in his new home, will face champion Sam Alvey.
Poatan's next step
Currently, Alex Poatan is eyeing a super fight against Jon Jones in the UFC heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg). However, if he remains in the light heavyweight division, the Brazilian, the current champion, is likely to face either Carlos Ulberg or Jiri Prochazka . The New Zealander is ranked third and has a nine-fight winning streak. The Czech fighter is a former champion in the division and is currently ranked first. The problem for 'Denisa' is that he has lost twice to the renowned striker via knockout.
It's quite true that the rivalry between the Brazilian and Magomed Ankalaev remains alive and even. However, since the Russian doesn't enjoy prestige within the UFC, he should be discarded, passed over in favor of the athletes mentioned above.
Watch the intense training session between Alex Poatan and Robelis Despaigne.
View this photo on Instagram
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
You need to log in to comment.