12/21/24 Notebook: Robelis Despaigne Wins Karate Combat Debut In Four Seconds

Welcome to the notebook, a quick catchup of all the smaller (but still important) stories from the world of MMA!

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Here are the latest stories we’re following:

UFC

• Robelis Despaigne, a former UFC heavyweight who was cut from the roster earlier this year after back-to-back losses, won his Karate Combat debut on Thursday in just four seconds. The stoppage was similar to his rise on the regional scene, where at one point he earned a trio of wins in a combined 19 seconds.
• Here are four more fights that have been added to UFC’s February 25th “Fight Night” card:
  • Elijah Smith (7-1) will have a tough matchup for his UFC debut, facing veteran Vince Morales (16-8) at bantamweight. Fury FC vet Smith scored a UFC contract in September, beating Aaron Tau on “Dana White’s Contender Series.” Morales lost in his return to the UFC roster earlier this year, dropping a decision to Taylor Lapilus and breaking a five-fight winning streak he developed on the regional scene. News of the matchup was first reported by Octagon Update.
  • Coming off his first UFC win, Valter Walker (12-1) will go up against Don’Tale Mayes (11-7) at heavyweight. Walker bounced back from his sole pro loss in August, submitting Junior Tafa with a rare heel hook. 10-fight UFC vet Mayes lost a decision to Shamil Gaziev in his last appearance.
  • Returning after more than a year out of the cage, Rafael Estevam (12-0) will face Jesus Aguilar (11-2). Estevam won his UFC debut back in November 2023, beating Charles Johnson via decision. He now faces Aguilar, who is on a three-fight winning streak and just recently snapped the undefeated record of prospect Stewart Nicoll with a quick submission result.
  • Now with a UFC win on his record, Kaue Fernandes (9-2) will try to take down veteran Jared Gordon (20-7). Fernandes bounced back from a 2023 loss to Marc Diakiese by stopping Mohammad Yahya in the first round with strikes earlier this year. Gordon’s last fight was a split decision defeat against Nasrat Haqparast.
• Rising light heavyweight Ibo Aslan (14-1) will look for his third UFC win when he faces Ion Cutelaba (18-10-1) at the promotion’s February 22nd show in Seattle, Washington. Turkey’s Aslan has earned back-to-back finish wins in his rookie UFC year, beating Anton Turkalj and handing Raffael Cerqueira his first loss. Cutelaba, who has struggled in recent years, is coming off a split decision over Ivan Erslan.
  • Also on that card, Modestas Bukauskas (16-6) and Raffael Cerqueira (11-1) will square off. Bukauskas has won three of his four fights since returning to the UFC in 2023, with his most recent appearance being a submission win over Marcin Prachnio. Cerqueira is coming back for the first time since his aforementioned UFC debut loss to Aslan.

PFL

• The full undercard for PFL’s “Champions Series” event on January 25th from Dubai has been revealed.
  • The card is notably without a big trilogy fight at heavyweight between Vadim Nemkov (18-2) and light heavyweight champ Corey Anderson (18-6), a bout which was expected for the card but has since departed the lineup. Anderson has gone public with allegations that Nemkov didn’t want the matchup, although PFL has not cited why the fight was pulled.
  • The new co-main event, like the headliner of the night, is a Russia vs. Ireland clash: Undefeated Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0) will return for a bout against Nathan Kelly (11-2) at featherweight. Magomedsharipov has earned five wins since joining Bellator/PFL in 2021, with his last victory being a June decision over Tyler Mathison. Kelly has also been on the rise, with a pair of first-round finish victories from Bellator cards earlier this year under his belt.
  • Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) will face off against Kenny Mokhonoana (5-1), looking for his third win since joining the PFL roster in June. Mokhonoana on the other hand is returning for the first time since his undefeated record was snapped by Josh O’Connor in 2023.
  • Former Eagle FC Champion Renat Khavalov (8-0) will make his promotional debut against Cleiver Fernandes (9-1). Khavalov has earned his wins since debuting in 2019, with six of his past victories coming via finish. Despite the few fights on his record, the Russian talent has already appeared in five different five-round matchups. Fernandes is coming over to the PFL after a run of wins in Brazil, including a Shooto Brasil title victory in 2023.
  • Coming back from an unsuccessful Levels Fight League title bout, Ahmed Sami (11-4) will meet Tarek Suleiman (13-8). Sami, a former OKTAGON and UAE Warriors fighter, went five rounds against Yousri Belgaroui for a decision loss in February. Suleiman is riding the momentum of an October victory, beating Ole Magnor at UAE Warriors.
  • Appearing for the first time since his “Road To UFC” run, Ruel Panales (5-2) will meet Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (5-1-1). Ex-Brave CF fighter Panales lost in the quarter-finals of the “Road To UFC” flyweight tournament this year, dropping a decision to Kiru Sahota. Al Hussaini had his five-fight undefeated run stopped in July, suffering an upset defeat to Ziad Ayman Mokhtar on a PFL MENA card.
  • Yakub Sulimanov (7-0) will make his PFL debut against promotional vet Jarrah Al-Silawi (20-7). Sulimanov is receiving a significant step up in competition after showing promise in Russia, putting together seven wins in past years. Al-Silawi is coming back after a run in the PFL MENA welterweight bracket, getting stopped in the semi-finals by Omar El Dafrawy.
  • 2023 PFL Europe finalist John Mitchell (9-2) is returning to the promotion for a fight against Souhil Tairi (7-5-1). Mitchell, who lost a PFL Europe title fight to Jakub Kaszuba a year ago, is coming back after scoring a first-round submission win on the regional scene. Tairi was a semi-finalist in this year’s PFL MENA lightweight bracket.
  • Egypt’s Assem Ghanem (4-0), coming off a title win in his home country in May, will take on Youssef Al Housani (4-1). The fight offers Al Housani a chance to finally make his promotional debut after an October PFL fight was cancelled.
  • Coming off back-to-back first-round finish wins in the PFL, Mostafa Rashed Neda (9-3) will take on Haider Khan (8-1). The matchup sees Khan move into the PFL after scoring a regional title in England.
  • In the opening fight of the night, LFA alum Mirafzal Akhtamov (7-0-1) will face Mike Thompson (7-2). Akhtamov has won his past three bouts via stoppage, including a 53-second submission victory in October. Thompson has fought in the English regional scene since 2021.

Misc.

• If you’re craving something to watch over the holiday break: MMA Junkie has released a ranking of MMA movies, from worst to best.