The UFC doesn’t usually allow their fighters to compete in other promotions unless it is wrestling and grappling.

Over the past few years, the UFC has become more accepting of allowing their fighters to compete in other promotions, as long as it is wrestling and grappling.

Even this coming Friday, UFC stars Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev are scheduled to compete at RAF 14 in wrestling competition, and it’ll mark Tsarukyan’s ninth match under the Real American Freestyle Wrestling banner.

Despite that, in a surprising turn of events, the promotion is letting one of their heavyweight stars compete for a title in a rival striking promotion.

Which other promotion would you sign with?🤔

The MMA landscape is arguably in the best position its ever been in with there being several big options outside of the UFC.

Robelis Despaigne to return to Karate Combat to defend his title

The MMA world was surprised to find out this past July that the UFC had re-signed Robelis Despaigne following his knockout win at MVP MMA 1 earlier this year. The Cuban striker was cut from the UFC back in 2024 after suffering two losses in a row, despite once being highlighted as a potential future champion.

He made his return this past September, handing Tai Tuivasa a record-setting loss at UFC 331, to mark his comeback to the promotion with a win. However, despite re-signing a contract with the UFC earlier this year, the 38-year-old is scheduled to return to Karate Combat where he will defend his heavyweight title.

Despaigne knocked out Sam Alvey to win the belt last December, and now according to the Karate Combat President, Asim Zaidi, he will return to the pit this December to make a defense of his title. “Robelis is planning to defend his title around December time, December 5th in Miami at Box Studios,” Zaidi said during a recent Karate Combat broadcast.

And according to the Karate Combat commentator, Ben Davis, this will not affect his standing in the UFC, as it was an agreement that Robelis and the UFC brokered when he re-signed with the premier MMA promotion.

This continues to show the trend that the UFC isn’t concerned with other promotions keeping their stars active, with them potentially seeing it as an opportunity for other promotions to help grow their stars and for them to gain popularity before returning to the cage. At this point, it is unclear how many fights Despaigne signed to the UFC for.