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.[3][4]
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.
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 won 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 Fight Night 155.[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 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.[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]
Roberson faced Brendan Allen on April 24, 2021 at UFC 261.[30] He lost the bout via ankle hook submission at the end of the first round.[31]
Roberson was scheduled to face promotional newcomer Nick Maximov on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266.[32] However, due to medical issues Roberson was forced to withdraw from the event and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Cody Brundage.[33]
In July 2022, it was announced that Roberson was no longer on the UFC roster.[38]
Post-UFC
Roberson was scheduled to face Adriano Capitulino at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 7 on March 2, 2024.[39] However, Capitulino was replaced with Handesson Ferreira and Roberson lost the bout by unanimous decision.[40]
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 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 a traffic stop, police located a defaced 9-millimeter handgun in Roberson's vehicle, as well as packages of crack cocaine and marijuana. He was booked into the Monmouth County correctional institution and was later released after posting bail.[41] If convicted, Roberson faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.[42]
^Feitl, Steve. "Karl Roberson fights to put Neptune on MMA map at UFC Fight Night", Asbury Park Press, November 10, 2017. Accessed November 4, 2018. "Karl Roberson is ready to show the world what he can do. But have no doubt, he also intends to show what his hometown of Neptune can do.... Today, the former baseball player at Neptune High School trains at Killer B Combat Sports Academy in Oakhurst."
