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Robelis Despaigne says UFC exit fixed the hole in his heavyweight game

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Robelis Despaigne says UFC exit fixed the hole in his heavyweight game
Robelis
Despaigne believes experience outside the Octagon has prepared
him for a second run in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Despaigne had finished all four of his pro fights within a combined
cage time of 5:13 when he made his UFC debut in 2024. The Olympic
taekwondo bronze medalist lived up to his hype by finishing
Josh
Parisian in 18 seconds in his promotional debut. However,
Despaigne's flaws were exposed as he was outwrestled in consecutive
losses against Waldo
Cortes-Acosta and Austen
Lane.

Robelis Despaigne details his improved ground game before
facing Tai Tuivasa at UFC 331

Despaigne (6-2) was released from the UFC in 2024 and went on to
compete in Karate Combat, where he won the heavyweight title. “The
Bad Boy†returned to mixed martial arts competition this past May
with a first-round knockout win over Junior dos
Santos at
Most Valuable Promotions' inaugural MMA event.

Despaigne has now re-signed with the UFC and is scheduled to begin
his second run against Tai Tuivasa
(14-10) at UFC
331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles. He feels more confident in his
second UFC run after gaining experience outside the Octagon. The
Cuban also believes he has significantly developed his ground game
since his first UFC stint. Despaigne still has the lofty goal of
becoming a UFC champion.

“I am happy to be back and thankful to the UFC for giving me the
opportunity to make my return,†Despaigne said in a recent
interview. “I gained about a year of experience outside of the UFC.
And now that I'm returning, I have much more confidence in myself.
The main difference is that I've got a lot of experience and I've
worked on my ground game. I feel as if it's a welcome party and I'm
gonna give it my all to get the victory… As always, I'm highly
ambitious and my goal is to get the UFC belt.â€

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MMA

Court McGee at peace with UFC farewell: ‘OK is good enough for me’

Published

6 hours ago

on

October 7, 2026

By

Court McGee at peace with UFC farewell: ‘OK is good enough for me’
Court
McGee is proud of his final
Ultimate Fighting Championship appearance.

McGee's final bout came against Eric Nolan
at UFC
332 on Oct. 3 in front of his home fans in Salt Lake City. He
suffered a third-round technical knockout loss after a hard-fought
battle and subsequently laid down his gloves inside the Octagon to
mark the end of his UFC career.

Court McGee reflects on his final UFC fight after 16 years in
the promotion

McGee released a statement addressing his retirement. He is proud
of his final UFC fight despite the loss. After 16 years in the UFC,
McGee said he finally took it all in leading up to his farewell
bout. “The Crusher†also paid tribute to 13 coaches and training
partners he lost along the way.

“Saturday night was my last fight in the UFC,†McGee posted on X.
“16 years. 29 fights, including my time in the Ultimate Fighter
house. One hell of a journey. I didn't get my hand raised, but I'm
incredibly proud of my performance, proud of my opponent, and
genuinely happy for him. For the first time, I was able to slow
down and truly experience it all—the weeks leading up to the fight,
fight week, the walk to the Octagon, and everyone who's been beside
me through the highs and lows. Including the 13 coaches and
training partners we've lost. RIP. I gave this sport everything I
had. Sometimes my best was great. Sometimes it was just okay.
Saturday night, I was okay—and okay is good enough for me. I'm
grateful for the wins, the losses, the lessons, the people, and
every damn moment in between. What a journey. Thank you.â€

McGee (22-15) won Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter†in 2010,
earning a UFC contract. He overcame addiction before beginning his
professional mixed martial arts career.

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MMA

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight

Published

1 day ago

on

October 6, 2026

By

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight
Dustin
Poirier will do whatever it takes to help his teammates.

Poirier recently recalled an incident in which he helped a teammate
make weight illegally. Poirier's friend was over the weight limit
for a fight in Mississippi, and the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder resorted to
manipulating the scale to help him.

Dustin Poirier details how he lifted an overweight teammate
during a Mississippi weigh-in

Fighters shed every bit of clothing and stand behind a towel when
they're close to the weight limit. Poirier stood behind the towel
with his teammate while everyone else was on the other side. “The
Diamond†claims he slightly lifted his friend so that he made
weight.

“One time one of my buddies was fighting in Mississippi,†Poirier
said on the “Deep Waters†podcast. “And they had the towel out, he
was naked, he was over [the weight limit]. I was behind the towel
with him. Everybody was in front. I grabbed a handful of hairy man
*ss cheeks and I lifted him up a little bit, got him on
weight.â€

Poirier (30-10) hung up his gloves after losing to Max
Holloway last year. He has since admitted that he misses
fighting and hasn't entirely ruled out a return.

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MMA

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight

Published

1 day ago

on

October 6, 2026

By

Dustin Poirier admits he helped teammate cheat scale to make weight
Dustin
Poirier will do whatever it takes to help his teammates.

Poirier recently recalled an incident in which he helped a teammate
make weight illegally. Poirier's friend was over the weight limit
for a fight in Mississippi, and the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder resorted to
manipulating the scale to help him.

Dustin Poirier details how he lifted an overweight teammate
during a Mississippi weigh-in

Fighters shed every bit of clothing and stand behind a towel when
they're close to the weight limit. Poirier stood behind the towel
with his teammate while everyone else was on the other side. “The
Diamond†claims he slightly lifted his friend so that he made
weight.

“One time one of my buddies was fighting in Mississippi,†Poirier
said on the “Deep Waters†podcast. “And they had the towel out, he
was naked, he was over [the weight limit]. I was behind the towel
with him. Everybody was in front. I grabbed a handful of hairy man
*ss cheeks and I lifted him up a little bit, got him on
weight.â€

Poirier (30-10) hung up his gloves after losing to Max
Holloway last year. He has since admitted that he misses
fighting and hasn't entirely ruled out a return.

Continue Reading
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