Overview
- The re-signing, announced Friday by First Round Management, returns the 6-foot-7 Cuban to the UFC roster after roughly two years away.
- No return date or opponent has been announced, so UFC will determine whether to schedule a measured test that probes his ground game or a matchup that leans on his striking.
- Despaigne’s stock rose after a high-profile knockout of former champion Junior dos Santos on MVP’s Netflix card in May 2026 and a run of quick stoppages and a heavyweight title in Karate Combat.
- His MMA record is reported at 6-2 with all six wins by KO or TKO, and his two late-2024 UFC decision losses exposed wrestling and grappling weaknesses that matchmakers will likely try to exploit.
- The signing narrows immediate cross-promotion options for rival groups such as MVP and PFL and underscores how an outside KO can prompt the UFC to re-integrate a dangerous finisher into the heavyweight mix.