Karl Roberson

After earning three wins in amateur MMA, Roberson made his professional MMA debut May 2015. He fought sporadically over the next two years, obtaining a record of 5–0.

Roberson appeared in Dana White Contender Series - Season 1, Episode 3 on July 25, 2017 against Ryan Spann. He won the fight via a guillotine choke in round one and he was award the UFC contract.[5]

He made his debut on November 11, 2017 against Darren Stewart at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[6]

Roberson faced Cezar Ferreira on May 12, 2018 at UFC 224.[7] He lost the fight via technical submission in the first round.[8]

Roberson faced Jack Marshman on November 3, 2018 at UFC 230.[9] He win the fight via unanimous decision.[10]

Roberson agreed on a short notice fight against Glover Teixeira in the light heavyweight division at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw on January 19, 2019. Roberson replaced Ion Cutelaba in the fight who had to pull out due to an injury.[11] Despite hurting Teixeira with elbows early in the round, Roberson lost the fight in the first round by submission via arm triangle choke.[12]

Roberson was scheduled to meet John Phillips on July 13, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 13.[13] However, it was reported that Phillips was pulled from the bout due to injury and he was replaced by Wellington Turman.[14] Roberson won the fight via a controversial split decision.[15]

Roberson faced promotional newcomer Roman Kopylov on November 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 21.[16] He won the fight via a submission in round three.[17]

Roberson was expected to face Makhmud Muradov on April 18, 2020 at UFC 249.[18] However, Muradov was forced to pull from the event due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restriction, and Roberson was pulled from the event and was scheduled to meet Marvin Vettori on April 25, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 173.[19] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date[20] Instead Roberson was scheduled to face Marvin Vettori on May 13, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 9.[21] At the weigh-ins Roberson weighed in at 187.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the middleweight non-title weight limit of 186 pounds. He was fined 20% of his purse, which was given to opponent Vettori, and the match was to proceed at a catchweight.[22] However, Roberson was removed from the fight due to rhabdomyolysis.[23][24] The fight was rescheduled to June 13, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo.[25] At the weigh-ins on June 12, Roberson once again missed weight, weighing in at 190.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the non-title middleweight limit of 186 pounds. The bout proceed as a catchweight bout and Roberson was fined 30% of his purse.[26] He lost the fight via a submission in round one.[27]