6'7ft A Level Athlete Olympian Robelis Despaigne Debuts In MMA

[Safton]

didn't some dude get disqualified and lose on a gold medal because he hit somebody too hard in the Olympics which caused a KO?

Nah, that was Olympic Karate the one year they tried it for the 2020 Summer Games. Olympic Karate basically adopted World Karate Federation (WKF) sport rules which is limited-contact point-fighting, so any "uncontrolled" technique which inflicts injury on your opponent is penalized. However, that situation arguably shouldn't have been handled that way regardless because the guy throwing the strike used clean technique and his opponent (who ended up with the gold) essentially moved into it, thus creating the situation. Shit happens.

Yeah, Karate is no longer a thing at the Olympics after that...

Meanwhile, WTF Taekwondo:





Mind you the flashy shit is relatively rare these days because of the adoption of the electronic hogu (vest) used in scoring, which turns 90% of most matches into tip-tap foot-fencing. That and despite being full-contact with headgear, WTF Taekwondo doesn't allow punches to the face or kicks below the waist. I probably sound like I've been gassing up TKD in this thread, so I felt I should qualify things.

 

[kingofthecans]

Blonde excellence

They have the most fun!

 

[Sgt Smith]

This guy would never be able to hang with one of us. That chin was so open.

Plus he's only 6'7".

 

[TCE]

Robelis Despaigne is for real!!!!!!

 

[Hellowhosthat]

He had some issues with the other dude leaning on him against the cage but his kicks when he's in space are the quickest in the division, which is what you'd expect really.

 

[The_Renaissance]

Interested in seeing if this guy can progress, he's something different for sure.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Striking was crisp, but he looked fairly easy to lean on.

Other guy couldn't take him down, but not sure the level of the other guy.

Ngannou was taken down by Enrique in his debut in the UFC and now he is an elite panic-wrestler.

This dude can definitely improve.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Nah, that was Olympic Karate the one year they tried it for the 2020 Summer Games. Olympic Karate basically adopted World Karate Federation (WKF) sport rules which is limited-contact point-fighting, so any "uncontrolled" technique which inflicts injury on your opponent is penalized. However, that situation arguably shouldn't have been handled that way regardless because the guy throwing the strike used clean technique and his opponent (who ended up with the gold) essentially moved into it, thus creating the situation. Shit happens.

Yeah, Karate is no longer a thing at the Olympics after that...

Meanwhile, WTF Taekwondo:





Mind you the flashy shit is relatively rare these days because of the adoption of the electronic hogu (vest) used in scoring, which turns 90% of most matches into tip-tap foot-fencing. That and despite being full-contact with headgear, WTF Taekwondo doesn't allow punches to the face or kicks below the waist. I probably sound like I've been gassing up TKD in this thread, so I felt I should qualify things.

I used to sparr a lot of TKD guys back in my kickboxing days. They are incredibly tricky. I hated them so I would just tight my guard and legkick them into oblivion.

I remember having a seminar with one of the top kickboxers in our country (60kg, amazing talent). His father was also a fighter and trained him his whole career.
He started doing pointfighting, tkd and full contact (that thing that they call kickboxing in the US) as a kid and he progressed from there to K-1 rules.
He attributed his accuracy to that. Definitely a great base IMO.

 

[Safton]

I used to sparr a lot of TKD guys back in my kickboxing days. They are incredibly tricky. I hated them so I would just tight my guard and legkick them into oblivion.

I remember having a seminar with one of the top kickboxers in our country (60kg, amazing talent). His father was also a fighter and trained him his whole career.
He started doing pointfighting, tkd and full contact (that thing that they call kickboxing in the US) as a kid and he progressed from there to K-1 rules.
He attributed his accuracy to that. Definitely a great base IMO.

Absolutely. With dedication to rounding out one's game, TKD (just like sport karate) can be a great foundation for striking. What they teach you about timing, footwork, and distance management is difficult to replicate in other arts. Not to mention the vast array of kicking techniques you end up with and the insane leg dexterity.

American Full-Contact Kickboxing is... interesting. One of my guilty pleasures is going back and watching the landmark match between Rick Roufus (Duke's older brother) and a smaller Thai fighter in a mixed-rules fight (essentially K1 I think).

 

[emefer]

So he’s like 13 foot tall?

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

Woah gotta keep an eye for this one