The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has seen a diverse array of talent from around the globe, and among them are several Cuban fighters who have made their mark. This article explores the journeys, accomplishments, and backgrounds of some notable Cuban fighters in the UFC.
Yoel Romero: The "Soldier of God"
Yoel Romero started training in wrestling in the 1990s and represented Cuba at the FILA Wrestling World Championships from 1997 to 2005. At the 1999 World Wrestling Championships, Romero became world champion by defeating the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Khadzhimurad Magomedov of Russia.
Romero competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the freestyle competition, losing to Adam Saitiev in the finals. He finished in fourth place in 2004. He medaled in five world championships.
Other notable achievements include a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, as well as multiple medal-winning finishes at the FILA Wrestling World Cup. After defecting to Germany in 2007, Romero made his professional mixed martial arts debut in December 2009.
From 2008 to 2011, Romero was trained by Serge Kuftin (combat sambo & MMA coach) and Zike Simic (kickboxing coach). Romero won his debut via TKO against Sascha Weinpolter and later signed with Strikeforce in July 2011.
Read also: Marine Corps Martial Arts
UFC Career
After Strikeforce was purchased and absorbed by the UFC, Romero made his promotional and middleweight debut against Clifford Starks on April 20, 2013, at UFC on Fox 7. He won the fight via flying knee knockout in the first round.
Romero faced Tim Kennedy on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178 and won the fight via TKO in the third round. This fight generated much controversy, as Romero received extra time to recover between rounds.
Romero faced former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida on June 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 70, headlining his first UFC event. Romero was scheduled to face David Branch on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28, but he instead fought Robert Whittaker for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 221.
At the weigh-ins, Romero missed weight and was ineligible for the interim championship. He won the fight via KO in the third round. A rematch with Whittaker took place on June 9, 2018, at UFC 225. Romero missed weight again, and the fight proceeded as a non-title catchweight bout, which he lost by a split decision.
Romero faced Paulo Costa on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241. On February 9, 2021, it was announced that Romero would be participating in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament.
Romero faced Thiago Santos on February 24, 2024, at PFL vs. Romero competed against future UFC Heavyweight fighter Chris Barnett in a submission grappling match hosted by Dean Toole Promotions on June 15, 2019.
Romero was informed of a potential doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition test conducted by USADA on January 13, 2016. Eventually, both parties reached an agreement for a six-month suspension after it was confirmed that a supplement he had taken was contaminated with ibutamoren.
In a controversial post-fight interview after his victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 70, Romero denied referring to gay marriage and apologized for his comments while maintaining that they were misunderstood.
Awards and Achievements:
- Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Chris Weidman.
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Clifford Starks and Lyoto Machida.
- Fight of the Night (Five times) vs. Robert Whittaker (twice), Paulo Costa.
- 2019: President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee vs. Paulo Costa.
- 2016: Ranked #10 Knockout of the Year vs. Chris Weidman.
- 2018: Fight of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker 2 & Ranked #6 Knockout of the Year vs. Robert Whittaker 2.
- 2019: Ranked #3 Fight of the Year vs. Paulo Costa.
- 2019 August Fight of the Month vs. Paulo Costa.
Robelis Despaigne: From Taekwondo to MMA
Cuba's Robelis Despaigne Wins Taekwondo +80kg Bronze - London 2012 Olympics
Robelis Despaigne Sanquet, born on September 9, 1988, is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and taekwondo practitioner. He is currently signed with Karate Combat, where he is the current Karate Combat Heavyweight Champion. Despaigne competed in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Despaigne spent his formative years in Cuba, beginning taekwondo at nine years old. After seven years, he earned a spot on the national taekwondo team, a position he held for 15 years. He won the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the +80 kg event.
In 2012, amidst dissatisfaction with the state of sports in Cuba, he decided to shift his focus. "I was losing love for the sport in 2012. A lot was going on in Cuba where I wasn’t really happy about the sport,” Despaigne explained. Encouraged by his coach to explore mixed martial arts (MMA), he initially hesitated but commenced MMA-specific training in 2019, incorporating grappling into his routine.
MMA Debut and UFC Career
Despaigne made his MMA debut against Katuma Mulumba on June 3, 2022, at Titan FC 77.
Despaigne faced Roggers Souza on 28 February 2025 at Karate Combat 53.
Key UFC Fights:
- UFC 299: Despaigne won his debut with an 18-second technical knockout.
- UFC St. Louis: Despaigne faced Waldo Cortes-Acosta, faltering in a step-up fight.
After his first UFC defeat, Despaigne returned to face Austen Lane. However, he was later released by the UFC and signed with Karate Combat.
Karate Combat Career:
- Karate Combat 51: Despaigne delivered a quick knockout.
- Karate Combat 52: He continued his streak with another quick knockout.
- Karate Combat 53: Despaigne destroyed another opponent.
- Karate Combat 58: Despaigne ended Sam Alvey's run with a brutal head kick KO.
Following his UFC release, Despaigne signed with Karate Combat and quickly made an impact, delivering several impressive knockouts. He is the current Karate Combat Heavyweight Champion.
Robelis Despaigne's transition from Olympic taekwondo to MMA showcases his adaptability and striking power, making him a notable figure in combat sports.
Leonardo Perdomo
Leonardo Perdomo proudly represents Cuba, although he now resides in Miami, Florida. He was part of Cuba’s national boxing team and has an extensive amateur boxing career of almost 200 matches. Perdomo made his professional debut in the BKFC’s Squared Circle.
Perdomo is not what most picture when they hear “heavyweight.” He is 235 pounds and his conditioning is a real problem for anyone he is facing. Perdomo looks to emulate Mike Tyson.
Notable Bouts:
- December 5, 2025 vs Willis
- September 12, 2025 vs Adams 2
- July 12, 2025 vs Adams
- March 27, 2025 vs Herelius
- December 21, 2024 vs Costa
Other Cuban Fighters
While Yoel Romero, Robelis Despaigne and Leonardo Perdomo have garnered significant attention, other Cuban fighters are also striving to make their mark in the UFC. These athletes often face unique challenges, including leaving their home country and adapting to new training environments.
Rodriguez
“Dana White, Sean Shelby, it's been a long time coming,” Rodriguez said. “I really deserve that shot at Contender Series or the UFC straight up. A 10-1 record is no simple feat, and Rodriguez’s story is all but simple.
“I was born in Havana, Cuba,” Rodriguez explained, “I started wrestling when I was six years old, then all the way until I was 18. My family decided to move to the United States, so we flew from Cuba to Ecuador, then we crossed every border from Ecuador to the United States. Having made Las Vegas home, Rodriguez had a natural draw to Tuff-N-Uff.
“[Tuff-N-Uff] is definitely my go-to,” Rodriguez boasted. “It will always will be my go-to. It’shere in Vegas so I get to sleep in my own bed and my people can go support.
“It’s amazing,” Rodriguez exclaims. “It's crazy how [The UFC Performance Institute] have everything computerized. The fight simulation is crazy, they have the air bike, they have the ropes, they have the pad.
“Make sure you tune in or you show up in person at the Palms,” Rodriguez said. “April 25th, tune in on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Personal Stories: Rodriguez
I started training judo as a child in Cuba. When I was 17, I moved to Mexico. I started training jiu-jitsu and fell in love with this martial art.
I don't have professional titles, but I have given the former Fury FC champion his first defeat.
My favorite fighter at this moment is Ilia Topuria.
I left school in grade 10 to be able to train.
My first job was when I arrived in Mexico.
I fight to change the future of my family, I have a small business, a food truck where I make a living selling pizzas and Cuban food with my wife. Thanks to the support that she gives me along with my parents, I have the time I need to train.
My daily routine every day is I wake up early, I go to my business, I prepare the pizza dough, then I go to train at 10 am until 12, then I go back to work until 8 pm. When I get home, I go to the gym to do physical preparation, and that's how busy my life is while I pursue this dream of being in the UFC.