Roggers Souza is not impressed by Robelis Despaigne’s quick knockout wins in Karate Combat. Despaigne defeated Dominik Jedrzejczyk and Marcos Brigagao in a combined 16 seconds, but Souza, his next opponent, remains unconvinced.
Souza, a seasoned heavyweight MMA fighter with experience in Brazil and Russia, expressed surprise at being offered a fight against Despaigne for Karate Combat’s upcoming event in Denver. Despite Despaigne’s Olympic bronze medal in taekwondo and rapid knockouts in MMA, Souza is critical of his striking abilities.
“While acknowledging my opponent’s significant knockout power, I must say he is not skilled in MMA,” Souza stated in an interview. “He was previously in a major MMA organization and was released after losses, indicating he is not yet suited for MMA. His striking technique is unrefined. Although his power is undeniable, I have faced formidable opponents before and I am confident in my ability to defeat him.”
Despaigne’s “unrefined” striking has led to two swift victories in Karate Combat. However, Souza points out that Despaigne’s first opponent had a 0-1 record, and his second opponent was primarily a grappler in MMA. Souza, a jiu-jitsu black belt himself, who has defeated notable fighters in MMA, believes his striking is superior to Despaigne’s.
Souza referenced Vitor Petrino’s remark, suggesting Despaigne has a limited fight time of “30 seconds.” Souza contrasted this by highlighting his own experience in enduring longer fights, stating, “I am accustomed to fighting three five-minute rounds, I have the stamina. I intend to engage actively and believe we will deliver an exciting fight.”
At 35, Souza recognizes he is in the later stages of his career. However, facing a hyped fighter like Despaigne presents a valuable opportunity. Souza, who had returned to his hometown to work, paused his job to train for Karate Combat.
“As Renato Moicano once joked, he fights to avoid working,” Souza shared with a laugh. “I have had opportunities with major organizations in the past. Currently, preparing for fights is a significant investment for me. Approaching 36, I am always eager to seize opportunities.”
“I previously faced high-level fighters like Ciryl Gane and Sergei Kharitonov, which were valuable learning experiences in my MMA journey. I am confident that a victory over Despaigne would greatly benefit my career.”
