Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit:Getty/UFC
Robelis
Despaigne is in a rush to attain championship gold after a
stellar promotional debut at UFC
299 at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday.
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After starting his career with four first-round knockouts,
Despaigne’s UFC contract was announced during the broadcast of his
last outing at Fury FC 84 this past December. The former taekwondo
Olympic medalist announced his arrival to the promotion by brutally
knocking out Josh
Parisian while moving backwards 18 seconds into the opening
round of their UFC 299 clash. The Cuban star’s last four outings
now have a combined fight time of 37 seconds.
At 35 years old, Despaigne is in a hurry to reach a title shot. He
has called for a quick turnaround matchup for UFC
300, which goes down on April 13. Additionally, “The Bad Boy”
believes he might be four or five outings away from a potential
championship opportunity.
“He wants to take step by step but he thinks he can fight for the
belt in four or five fights,” Despaigne’s translator said at a
post-fight media scrum. “He wants to get top 15, then top 10,
then top 5 and then obviously fight for the belt.
“He is 35 years old, so if he feels that he needs big fights really
soon then he wants to come back at UFC 300 maybe [against] a Top
10, Top 15. And only because he says he wants to be champion really
soon.”
Asked if he has any names in mind for a potential UFC 300 matchup,
Despaigne targeted two ranked Brazilian heavyweights without naming
anyone specific.
“He says that he doesn’t know the whole scenario like who has a
fight and who doesn’t but he has looked at the rankings and he says
there are two Brazilians,” the translator said. “He would like to
fight any of them if they are available for UFC 300.”