By Safeer MS
Robelis Despiagne had made his debut in style at UFC 299, knocking out Josh Parisian in the first round. However, Wadlo Cortes-Acosta had other plans at UFC St. Louis. The Brazilian who only had a single takedown in his previous fights took Despaigne down three times and easily won via unanimous decision. It makes one wonder, was Despaigne a hype train that got derailed?
Robelis Despaigne was a huge favorite going into the fight against Josh Parisian. However, he was only a slight favorite against Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Even though Cortes-Acosta was the more experienced fighter, oddsmakers favored the Cuban Olympic medalist. Nevertheless, the fight didn’t go as the oddsmakers predicted as the Brazilian had other plans. Salsa Boy showcased a new wrinkle in his game – Wrestling. Moreover, the Cuban fighter had no answer for it. He accepted the bottom position every time his opponent took him down.
Despaigne was in his usual Taekwondo stance, hands down and kick heavy. Cortes-Acosta’s game plan was to grab a hold of his opponent, take him down, and finish the round there. If Despaigne had chosen not to engage in close range and rely heavily on long-range weapons like his kicks and jabs, he would’ve won comfortably by decision. One thing that surprised everybody was the chin of the Brazilian. Despaigne had knocked out all his previous opponents even without much effort by the Brazilian’s chin stood strong.
What should be next for Robelis Despaigne?
Robelis Despaigne should now face a fighter outside the rankings. As a matter of fact, he should be facing an unranked fighter for his upcoming 2-3 fights. The deficiency in his wrestling is glaring. If a striker like Cortes-Acosta was able to nullify Despaigne with wrestling, he has a long way to go before becoming a complete MMA fighter. Another thing he should keep in mind is patience. Despaigne has long legs and arms and should utilize them to the fullest.
The Cuban fighter should resist his urge to knock out his opponent. What he should be doing is poking and prodding his opponent with jabs and lead leg kicks. Though he is a giant, his size has affected his ability to get up if taken down, particularly as he has no wrestling experience. The fight against Cortes-Acosta should only be a learning experience. Heavyweights can fight into their 40s. Therefore, Despaigne should utilize the next two years to improve wrestling and fight relatively weaker opposition.
