UFC vet Robelis Despaigne honored to share GFL team with Yoel Romero, Hector Lombard

MIAMI – GFL’s Miami team features a lot of Cuban power, and Robelis Despaigne is over the moon that he forms part of it.

GFL, the newly launched team-based MMA promotion that’s expected to begin in April 2025, had its official draft this past Friday. The Miami team landed decorated veterans Yoel Romero and Hector Lombard.

Despaigne, a fellow Cuban, feels honored to share the team with his countrymen, who he’s long looked up to in MMA.

“I was very happy to be on the same team and on the same level with fighters such as Yoel Romero and Hector Lombard, who are legends of Cuba,” Despaigne told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “I can only imagine when we get to fight at an event, the three of us sharing and being together. That’s beautiful. ”

Despaigne entered the UFC in 2024 and won his debut with an 18-second KO. However, he lost his two subsequent fights by decision and was cut from the promotion before the year’s end. Since then, he’s competed twice under the Karate Combat banner and, as expected, has picked up two quick knockout victories.

Despaigne is enjoying this Karate Combat chapter of his career, and wants to take it even further. Yet, MMA is still his main goal.

“You always look to be on the biggest stages,” Despaigne said. “I do like a lot Karate Combat, and I want to win the title in Karate Combat, but the dream has always been to be in the UFC. I already accomplished that, but I want to return and fight MMA, and do reach everything possible that’s in reach.”