Karl Roberson: Fans react to former UFC fighter being charged with jewelry robbery

This weekend saw UFC fans stunned by the news that former middleweight contender Karl Roberson had been arrested in connection to a robbery in his home state of New Jersey.

According to reports, Roberson, who departed the promotion in 2022, has been charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of controlled dangerous substances and several weapons offenses.

Only time will tell whether the charges on Roberson stick and whether ‘Baby K’ ends up heading to jail for his alleged part in this incident. However, some fans on Twitter used the incident to hit out at the UFC.

In response to various tweets on the incident, a number of fans seemed to blame the promotion's low pay for Roberson’s alleged turn to crime.

Other fans poked fun at Roberson himself, with some comparing him to the infamous Lee Murray.

For those unaware, Murray is a former UFC fighter who was allegedly involved in the largest cash heist in UK history in 2006, with almost £53m being stolen.

How much money did Karl Roberson earn during his time with the UFC?

Karl Roberson joined the UFC’s roster in the summer of 2017 following a win over current light-heavyweight contender Ryan Spann on Dana White’s Contender Series.

He debuted later that year by submitting Darren Stewart, but despite garnering some hype for the win, quickly settled into a role as a mid-level action fighter.

‘Baby K’ won four of his first six bouts inside the octagon, but hit a slide after a 2020 loss to Marvin Vettori. He followed that defeat with three more losses, being stopped in all three fights, and was subsequently cut from the promotion following his 2022 loss to Kennedy Nzechukwu.

Working out how much money Roberson earned during his five years with the promotion is difficult, primarily because the majority of his fights took place in countries and US states that do not disclose pay.

However, The Sports Daily estimates Roberson’s career earnings as being around $296,500, putting him way behind the promotion’s most highly paid fighters.

Conor McGregor, for instance, is estimated to have earned over $25m during his octagon career, while his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov is estimated to have earned over $14m.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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