Emotional Austen Lane dedicates first UFC win to son

October 21, 2024 11:45 am ET

LAS VEGAS – Austen Lane beat Robelis Despaigne with a unanimous decision Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 245 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Lane, who got his first UFC win – and was the third biggest underdog on the card.

Austen Lane def. Robelis Despaigne

Austen Lane

Result: Austen Lane def. Robelis Despaigne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Updated records: Lane (13-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Despaigne (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC)

Key stats: Lane had three takedowns and nearly 9 minutes of control time.

Lane on the fight’s key moment

Austen Lane def. Robelis Despaigne, UFC Fight Night 245 (via UFC)

“This was a long time coming – definitely an emotional experience. The first couple of fights haven’t gone my way, but I think I found the right formula. I think I found the right team and I found the right routine to put me in a flow state and get that win.

“It’s funny: I was actually going to go to (American Top Team), and my opponent went there (to train), so I couldn’t go there. I go to Xtreme Couture, and Eric (Nicksick) and everybody open their doors to me, and I couldn’t be happier there. There’s a bunch of killers in there.”

Lane on his son at the fight
“It’s definitely been a long journey. Everyone’s been through a lot, right? But I’ve been through a lot the past couple of years, and a lot of that, I felt like, carried over to my fighting a little bit – which I never intended it to. It’s mental sometimes. So (winning) meant everything. I had my son in attendance. This is my first time my son’s ever seen me fight. He spent the whole week with me, and talking about that right combination, that right formula – that’s what I needed. I needed him here. He’s always been my biggest support system.”

Lane on what he wants next

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 19: (R-L) Austen Lane and Robelis Despaigne of Cuba trade kicks in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I’m not meant to really sit around. I don’t like sitting around. When you sit around, your mind starts to wander and everything. I’m just the guy that’s always back in the gym, always pushing forward, always keeping moving. … You can play football, you can play basketball, you can play baseball – but you can’t play fighting because this is a lifestyle, and this and this has to be a lifestyle. That’s what I’ve made it. So as soon as I’m back in Jacksonville, I’m back training.”

To hear more from Lane, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

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