Joe Rogan is going VIRAL for translating Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne’s UFC 299 request

Robelis Despaigne's impressive 18-second knockout at UFC 299 and a humorous octagon interview moment with Joe Rogan captivate UFC fans.

Joe Rogan is going VIRAL for translating Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne’s UFC 299 request

Joe Rogan goes viral for hilarious octagon interview with Robelis Despaigne (Image via: IMAGO, X)

Robelis Despaigne made his UFC debut in style with an 18-second knockout of Josh Parisian at UFC 299. Despaigne made the heavyweight division take notice with a massive knockout. After the victory, Despaigne’s octagon interview with Joe Rogan went viral.

Interestingly, it was not Despaigne that made it go viral. Robelis Despaigne had a translator in place to convey his words. However, the translator was unable to convey Despaigne’s final message. However, Rogan understood it and made the translator know it well enough to amuse viewers. This is what Rogan said.

Follow him on Instagram, that's what he is saying.
Joe Rogan at the octagon interview at UFC 299
YouTube video

The translator was there to translate Spanish into English, but Despaigne’s English confused him. However, Joe Rogan quickly understood what Despaigne said in English. The hilarious incident had the translator burst into laughter. Interestingly, the translator was not Fabiano Buskei, the regulator translator for Latin American languages, who is very much liked by fans and fighters.

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Parisian was an unranked opponent, and Despaigne stated at the post-fight press conference that he intended to have a top-15-ranked opponent in his next fight. The Cuban heavyweight stated he would slowly defeat higher-ranked opponents before fighting for the title.

Robelis Despaigne wins Performance Bonus on his UFC debut

Robelis Despaigne had only fought four times before the UFC signed him. His first MMA fight went 4 minutes and 54 seconds, but his next three fights cumulatively went 19 seconds. Therefore, expectations were high for the Olympic Bronze medalist in Taekwondo. He did not disappoint as he dispatched Josh Parisian in 18 seconds on his UFC debut.

Robelis Despaigne at UFC 299
Robelis Despaigne at UFC 299 (Image via X)

Despaigne won the Performance Bonus from UFC CEO Dana White for his knockout. Funnily enough, it was the first thing he said in the post-fight press conference. Despaigne hilariously called the UFC CEO ‘Dana Blanco’ as Blanco is the Spanish term for the word ‘White.’ Since the departure of Francis Ngannou, the UFC has not had a specimen of a heavyweight. However, the arrival of Despaigne changes things.

Despaigne was not the only fighter who got a Performance Bonus. Dana White gave bonuses to every fighter with a knockout or submission finish at the PPV. Sean O’Malley also got the bonus for his masterclass performance. Moreover, Benoit Saint-Denis and Dustin Poirier earned the Fight of the Night bonus. The UFC rarely gives bonuses worth a cumulative $200K to four fighters. They would only give away more than that if the event were a massive success. UFC 299 broke several records, and the fighters were paid.

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