Karl Roberson

Karl Roberson (born October 4, 1990) is an American former kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Early life and education Raised in Neptune Township, New Jersey. Roberson played baseball at Neptune High School.

Kickboxing career Roberson was called on short notice to fight K-1 legend Jérôme Le Banner at Fight Night Saint-Tropez 4 on August 4 in Saint-Tropez on his retirement fight. Although he was making his professional kickboxing debut, with only three amateur fights, he managed to upset Le Banner and score two knockdowns, first was ruled as a slip and during the second the referee proceeded with a slow count about 30 seconds that allowed him to recover, leading the fight to a controversial decision loss.

Mixed martial arts career Early career 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.

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Roberson appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 3 on July 25, 2017 against Ryan Spann. He won the fight via elbow strikes in round one and he was award the UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship 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.

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

Roberson faced Jack Marshman on November 3, 2018 at UFC 230. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

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. Despite hurting Teixeira with elbows early in the round, Roberson lost the fight in the first round by submission via arm triangle choke.

Roberson was scheduled to meet John Phillips on July 13, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 155. However, it was reported that Phillips was pulled from the bout due to injury and he was replaced by Wellington Turman. Roberson won the fight via a controversial split decision.

Roberson faced promotional newcomer Roman Kopylov on November 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 163. He won the fight via a submission in round three.

Roberson was expected to face Makhmud Muradov on April 18, 2020 at UFC 249. 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. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date Instead Roberson was scheduled to face Marvin Vettori on May 13, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 9. 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. However, Roberson was removed from the fight due to rhabdomyolysis. The fight was rescheduled to June 13, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo. 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. He lost the fight via a submission in round one.

Roberson was scheduled to face Dalcha Lungiambula on December 12, 2020 at UFC 256. However, Karl tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight was moved to the next card on December 19, UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal.

Roberson faced Brendan Allen on April 24, 2021 at UFC 261. He lost the bout via ankle hook submission at the end of the first round.

Roberson was scheduled to face promotional newcomer Nick Maximov on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266. However, due to medical issues Roberson was forced to withdraw from the event and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Cody Brundage.

Roberson faced Khalil Rountree Jr. on March 12, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 203. Roberson lost the bout via TKO in round two.

Roberson faced Kennedy Nzechukwu on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.

In July 2022, it was announced that Roberson was no longer on the UFC roster.

Post-UFC Roberson was scheduled to face Adriano Capitulino at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 7 on March 2, 2024. However, Capitulino was replaced with Handesson Ferreira and Roberson lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Bare-knuckle boxing Roberson made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Oluwale Bamgbose on October 4, 2025 at BKFC 82. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

Legal issues On March 27, 2023, Roberson was arrested in Neptune City, New Jersey on felony charges of burglary, theft, and criminal mischief in connection to a December 2022 residential burglary of a childhood friend's home in Howell Township, where over $200,000 in custom jewelry was stolen. The home's surveillance system showed two masked men, one of whom was determined to be Roberson upon further investigation, on and inside the property. After being placed under arrest and subject to a search of his vehicle following, police located a defaced 9-millimeter handgun in Roberson's vehicle, as well as small packages of crack cocaine and marijuana. He was booked into the Monmouth County correctional institution and was later released after posting bail. If convicted, Roberson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Handesson Ferreira Decision (unanimous) Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 7

Orlando, Florida, United States Loss

Kennedy Nzechukwu TKO (elbows) UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Khalil Rountree Jr. TKO (body kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brendan Allen Submission (ankle lock) UFC 261

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Loss

Marvin Vettori Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Roman Kopylov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar

Moscow, Russia Win

Wellington Turman Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: de Randamie vs. Ladd

Sacramento, California, United States Loss

Glover Teixeira Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw

Brooklyn, New York, United States Win

Jack Marshman Decision (unanimous) UFC 230

New York City, New York, United States Loss

Cezar Ferreira Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 224

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Darren Stewart Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis

Norfolk, Virginia, United States Win

Ryan Spann KO (elbows) Dana White's Contender Series 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Derrick Brown Submission (armbar) CFFC 65: Brady vs. Saraceno

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Elijah Gbollie TKO (punches) Shogun Fights 16

Baltimore, Maryland, United States Win

Michael Wilcox Submission (armbar) CFFC 50: Smith vs. Williams

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Chike Obi Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 51

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Lex Ludlow Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Caged Combat 19: Bloodshed

Philadelphia, USA Light Heavyweight bout. Win

Lex Ludlow TKO (retirement) Xtreme Caged Combat: Vendetta

Philadelphia, USA Light Heavyweight bout. Win

Adam Timberlake Decision (unanimous) GMMMA: Gold Medal MMA

Metuchen, USA Heavyweight bout.

Kickboxing record

Bare knuckle boxing record Loss

Oluwale Bamgbose TKO BKFC 82

Newark, New Jersey, United States