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Tag: Yoel Romero

  • WATCH: 49-Year-Old Yoel Romero Breaks Opponent’s Jaw In Violent 70-Second Finish

    WATCH: 49-Year-Old Yoel Romero Breaks Opponent’s Jaw In Violent 70-Second Finish

    Yoel Romero added another emphatic finish to his late-career run, stopping Alex Nicholson in the main event of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA on Friday night in Miami.

    Even at 49, Romero showed no signs of slowing down. After a brief exchange early, Nicholson found some success with a leg kick that momentarily disrupted the Cuban.

    But once “Soldier of God” closed the distance, the momentum shifted quickly. He secured a takedown and followed up with a crushing left hand on the ground that broke Nicholson’s jaw, forcing a stoppage via strikes just over a minute into the fight.

    The victory marked a bounce-back performance for Romero, who had dropped back-to-back appearances across other combat sports formats. Prior to that stretch, the former UFC middleweight title challenger had built momentum with wins in multiple disciplines following his departure from Bellator after its merger with PFL.

    Originally scheduled to face Hector Lombard, Romero instead took on Nicholson after a late change to the card. The adjustment did little to alter the outcome, as Romero imposed his physicality and experience once the fight hit the mat.

    The result continues a busy stretch for Romero, who has remained active across bareknuckle MMA, boxing-influenced formats, and wrestling-based events. Despite frequent rule-set changes, his ability to finish fights has remained consistent.

  • Yoel Romero Reveals Blueprint to Beat Ilia Topuria

    Yoel Romero Reveals Blueprint to Beat Ilia Topuria

    Yoel Romero has laid out a blueprint to beat Ilia Topuria ahead of the featherweight champion’s lightweight title unification bout with Justin Gaethje. The former UFC middleweight contender believes targeting high kicks could be the key to defeating the seemingly unstoppable Spaniard.

    Topuria faces Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House this June, where he will attempt to unify the lightweight title. The 29-year-old enters the bout as a favorite after knocking out three legends in his last three outings.

    High Kick Strategy Could Exploit Topuria’s Defense

    Romero outlined his approach in an interview with Overdogs Espanol. The Cuban wrestler emphasized the importance of targeting Topuria’s head with kicks rather than body or leg strikes.

    “One thing is imagining his power, another is feeling it,” Romero said. “My plan? Target only high kicks. Not the body, not low. Head kicks to damage the arms and force him to defend. We all know he hits hard.”

    Historical Evidence Supports Head Kick Approach

    The strategy has merit given Topuria’s UFC history. Jai Herbert came closest to defeating the Spaniard when he dropped him with a head kick at UFC London in 2022, though Topuria recovered to finish the fight.

    Alexander Volkanovski employed a similar game plan in his bout with Topuria, utilizing distance striking and kicks. However, executing this strategy against a pressure fighter like Topuria presents significant challenges.

    Gaethje Faces Difficult Task

    While Gaethje possesses knockout power in his kicks, most famously putting Dustin Poirier to sleep with a head kick in 2023, implementing Romero’s blueprint may prove difficult. The former interim lightweight champion’s aggressive style could play into Topuria’s hands if he engages in pocket exchanges.

    Joe Rogan has stated that a Topuria victory would give him the greatest resume in UFC history. Conversely, a Gaethje win would rank among the biggest upsets in UFC title bout history given the current betting odds.

  • What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    What Makes Yoel Romero So Special? UFC All-Time Great Breaks Down His BKFC 80 Knockout

    Yoel Romero is truly something special.

    After making his mark in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotions—Strikeforce, the UFC, Bellator, and PFL—Romero has made the move to boxing where, despite being 48-years-old, he continues to dominate the competition. After scoring a pair of highlight-reel finishes under the Dirty Boxing Championship banner, ‘Soldier of God’ made his bare-knuckle debut earlier this month and did it yet again, finishing Theo Doukas via a vicious second-round KO.

    Looking back on the Cuban’s impressive performance at BKFC 80, former UFC and ONE world champion Demetrious Johnson commended Romero’s ability to take control of every environment he steps into, whether it be a ring, a cage, or an Octagon.

    “The movement, the constant rhythm change, the constant in and out rhythm, high guard, dropping in the right hand or straight shots down the middle of that guy’s guard was pretty much the story of the fight,” Johnson said via his YouTube channel. “All right, here we go. By that rhythm in the B. Boom. Right here. Boom. Right down the middle. Right down the middle. Look at his—look at his face. Look, man. Look at the blood just drop right here. Look at this. Then whack. Like, he’s just able to dictate what the guy’s going to do and move a certain way and be able to land those shots. My goodness.”

    “I think the biggest thing is Yoel’s movement, him putting things down the middle of the pipe on his opponent and then constantly just being active. Being absolutely active.”

    What’s next for Romero remains to be seen, but after his impressive showing in Hollywood, Florida, the ‘Soldier of God’ could already be queued up for a shot at the BKFC heavyweight crown.

  • Yoel Romero finds potential BKFC title fight “Very Tempting”, post-BKFC 80

    Yoel Romero finds potential BKFC title fight “Very Tempting”, post-BKFC 80

    Yoel Romero made a big splash in his BKFC debut to the scale that his sophomore fight in bare knuckle boxing could potentially be for a title. ‘Soldier of God’ dispatched of Theo Doukas with a bloody second round stoppage after dropping Doukas multiple times. Romero won his bare knuckle debut in the heavyweight ranks. This transpired in the feature fight of the night at BKFC 80 in Hollywood, Florida on September 12th.

    During the former UFC veteran’s post-fight interview, his interest was gauged in a potential cut down to cruiserweight for the purposes of a potential future shot at the BKFC crusierweight belt. BKFC cruiserweight champion Chris Camozzi will next defend his crown against Alessio Sakara in the headliner of BKFC 83 in Italy on October 25th. Romero has contended for UFC gold on multiple occasions and at the BKFC 80 post-fight press conference, when the former Bellator MMA title challenger was asked how it felt competing without the gloves, Romero said [through the aid of an interpreter],

    “Thank you and first thank God for everything that has happened to me and I’ve been in this game for a long time and I’ll still come.”

    Yoel Romero: it would “be an honor” to fight for BKFC gold

    Referencing the in-ring suggestion regarding a possible future title fight against the BKFC Italy main event victor and when asked what the Cuban competitor wants as his next step in BKFC, Romero stated [through the aid of an interpreter],

    “Sounds very tempting. Of course when you fight and you discuss something like that, it would always be an honor. But I’m ready for whatever they put on the table for me.”

    The former Olympic silver medal winning judoka has found himself thriving across multiple combat sports rulesets with a pair of wins on the Dirty Boxing Championship circuit before this recent debut effort in gloveless combat. Finally when asked what example he wants to leave here at BKFC with his vast experience in combat sports, Yoel Romero quipped [through the aid of an interpreter],

    “I don’t wake up and think about this. It’s what God has for me and the purpose that God has for me and I will continue to do that.”

  • Yoel Romero Destroys Opponent In BKFC Debut With Vicious Round 2 Knockout

    Yoel Romero Destroys Opponent In BKFC Debut With Vicious Round 2 Knockout

    Yoel Romero showed at 48 that he still has everything it takes to shake the combat sports world.

    On Friday night, Romero stepped into gloveless combat for the first time at BKFC 80, held at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, where he squared off against fellow debutant Theo Doukas in a heavyweight showdown.

    Image: @bareknucklefc/Instagram

    Although the “Soldier of God” took a measured approach in the opening round while his opponent held firm, the momentum swung violently in the second. The former Olympic medalist unleashed his trademark explosiveness, dropping Doukas three times in brutal fashion.

    Reeling from a deep cut on his forehead, Doukas was unable to answer the count after the third knockdown, forcing the referee to wave it off at the 1:56 mark and awarding Romero a devastating TKO victory.

    When Did Yoel Romero Part Ways With UFC?

    After his unsuccessful attempt to capture the middleweight title against then-champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 248 in March 2020, Yoel Romero’s run in the Octagon ended abruptly, despite having three fights left on his contract.

    Following his UFC exit, the “Soldier of God” made the move to Bellator, where he went 3-2 and battled his way to a light heavyweight title shot against Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 297, ultimately dropping a decision.

    His chapter with the promotion closed in February 2024 at the PFL vs. Bellator crossover event, where Romero capped off his run in style with a unanimous decision victory over former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos.

    Romero also tested himself under the unconventional ruleset of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship, where he showcased his power with back-to-back stoppage wins, first against Duane Crespo in November 2024 and then with a finish over Ras Hylton this past March.

    Image: @bareknucklefc/Instagram

  • Yoel Romero Set To Make Bareknuckle Boxing Debut At BKFC 80

    Yoel Romero Set To Make Bareknuckle Boxing Debut At BKFC 80

    Yoel Romero now has a date and opponent locked in for his bareknuckle debut.

    Last month, BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor officially welcomed 48-year-old Romero to the promotion’s roster. While now part of BKFC, the former UFC title challenger retains the freedom to compete in MMA and collaborate with other organizations as he pleases.

    Though the “Soldier of God” may be BKFC’s biggest attraction right now, promotion founder David Feldman previously admitted that many fighters backed out once Romero’s arrival was confirmed. But now, he finally has someone willing to step into the squared circle.

    BKFC Chief Reveals Fighters Hesitant to Fight Yoel Romero: 'A Couple Guys Already Turned It Down'

    Yoel Romero To Clash With Fellow Debutant At BKFC 80

    On Tuesday, BKFC officially announced that Yoel Romero will make his bareknuckle boxing debut in a heavyweight showdown against a fellow newcomer at BKFC 80, set for September 12 at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The upcoming card will be headlined by a heavyweight rematch between Leonardo Perdomo and Arnold Adams.

    Romero’s most recent outings came under the unique ruleset of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship, where he secured stoppage victories over Duane Crespo in November and Ras Hylton this past March. “Soldier of God” parted ways with the UFC after a failed middleweight title bid against Israel Adesanya at UFC 248 in March 2020.

    The former Olympic silver medalist transitioned to Bellator, where he compiled a 3-2 record and earned a shot at the light heavyweight title against Vadim Nemkov. Yoel Romero’s Bellator stint came to a close at the PFL vs. Bellator crossover event in February 2024, where he secured a unanimous decision win over UFC title challenger Thiago Santos.

    Meanwhile, Doukas brings a 2-2 professional MMA record into his BKFC debut, with both of his wins coming via stoppage. His most recent MMA outing took place in April 2024 at Fierce FC 31, where he suffered a second-round submission loss to Cole Shafer. The American also holds a 1-0 record in professional boxing.

    Theo Doukas to fight Yoel Romero at BKFC 80
    Image @kratariasmma/Instagram
  • Former BKFC Fighter Stabbed Yoel Romero In 2022 Incident, Acquitted Of Attempted Murder

    Former BKFC Fighter Stabbed Yoel Romero In 2022 Incident, Acquitted Of Attempted Murder

    The BKFC made major signings last week, one of whom was former UFC and Bellator title challenger Yoel Romero. Romero has been seen as a welcome edition to the roster, with hope he will fit in well with the bare-knuckle style.

    What may have gone under the radar, however, is that Romero had a run in with a man who is no longer on the BKFC roster as of last month — and that incident could have had a bad ending for Romero.

    Last week, the YouTube account Ragdoll MMA released a video taking a look into former BKFC bantamweight champion Alberto Blas’ release from the promotion, which occurred on June 26.

    In a statement BKFC President David Feldman announced that “a pattern of unprofessional behavior outside of competition” led the promotion to strip Blas of the bantamweight title and release him.

    “There were multiple infractions that went into this decision,” the statement read. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

    Former BKFC Champion Alberto Blas Acquitted Of Second-Degree Murder After Stabbing Recent BKFC Signee Yoel Romero

    While not directly mentioned by BKFC, one of the incidents in question involved a confrontation with Romero that saw him stab the “The Soldier of God” with a samurai sword in January 2022.

    As explained by an anonymous source in the video, Blas and Romero had gotten into a verbal confrontation at the American Top Team gym. In the parking lot, Blas attempted to strike Romero with his car before retrieving a samurai sword from his trunk. He used the sword to reportedly strike Romero in the arms and hands.

    Blas was charged in Florida on one count of second-degree attempted murder and one count of battery. Blas, however, was found not guilty on both charges. While the charges were dropped in 2024, a stay-away order of protection one month after the incident ordered Blas not to be in contact with the victim — whose named is listed on the document as Romero.

    Interestingly, as the video mentions, this press release from BKFC announcing Blas’ release came out hours after rival promotion Bare-Knuckle Boxing announced they had signed Blas to a multi-fight deal.

    BKB President Mike Vasquez recently told MMA News that he questions the nature of Feldman’s press release, since it did not come out until after BKB signed Blas. He furthermore claimed that several former BKFC fighters have messaged him, claiming the promotion did not pay fighters on time.

    Blas put out his own statement, claiming “While my record is not spotless, I stand by my reputation and wish to call this out for what it is: an insecure individual trying to save face while the company he built and subsequently sold off continues to spiral downward.”

  • BKFC Chief Reveals Fighters Hesitant to Fight Yoel Romero: ‘A Couple Guys Already Turned It Down’

    BKFC Chief Reveals Fighters Hesitant to Fight Yoel Romero: ‘A Couple Guys Already Turned It Down’

    Apparently nobody wants a piece of Yoel Romero.

    After establishing himself as one of MMA’s premier knockout kings, ‘Soldier of God’ is ready to kickstart a new chapter in his combat sports career, signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

    BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor announced Romero’s signing, along with three other ex-UFC stars, including Thiago Santos, Aspen Ladd, and Derek Brunson, during a Champions Summit press event in Hollywood, Florida.

    It was an exciting bit of news from the BKFC, though it sounds like the promotion will have its work cut out for it in regards to finding an opponent for the former UFC and Bellator title challenger.

    “We have a couple of guys who already turned it down, and then we just had one guy that said he would take it,” BKFC founder Dave Feldman told MMA Junkie. “We don’t know if that fight is going to happen, but I’m very excited about it – especially because he’s going to make his debut Sept. 12 here at the Hard Rock. So in Miami, where he’s from.

    “And to see Yoel Romero with the gloves off, I mean, that’s a dangerous thing.”

    Yoel Romero Ready to Add Bare-Knuckle Boxing to His Resume

    Feldman didn’t divulge any other details regarding the who, but we now know that Romero will toe the line for the very first time in September, assuming everything goes according to plan.

    Romero is 16-7 in his mixed martial arts career with 13 of his wins coming by way of KO/TKO. Following a seven-year run in the UFC, the Cuban bruiser put his skills to work under the Bellator banner, earning wins over Alex Polizzi, Melvin Manhoef, and Thiago Santos. Since then, the ‘Soldier of God’ has competed twice for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship, landing highlight-reel knockouts against Duane Crespo and Ras Hylton.

    His BKFC debut will be Romero’s first foray into the world of bare-knuckle boxing.

  • Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Yoel Romero, Three Other UFC & PFL Alumni Sign With BKFC

    Four former UFC fighters, including a trio of former UFC title challengers, are going from the MMA world to the world of bare-knuckle fighting.

    During the BKFC Champions Summit press conference with Conor McGregor, held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas ahead of BKFC 48, McGregor announced the additions of Yoel Romero, Thiago Santos, Derek Brunson, and Aspen Ladd to the BKFC roster.

    Romero and Santos were the particular focuses of the announcement — highlighting their striking power and their veteran statuses.

    BKFC Announces Four Signings, Including Yoel Romero And Thiago Santos

    Romero and Santos, in fact, faced off in MMA just a year-and-a-half ago. The two faced off during the PFL vs. Bellator broadcast, with Romero, who was representing Bellator, winning via a clear unanimous decision.

    Romero has not fought in MMA since the win, while Santos had one more fight, a short-notice loss to eventual 2024 PFL heavyweight champion Denis Goltsov during the regular season.

    Romero — a freestyle wrestling silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics and a former freestyle wrestling World and Pan-American champion — went 16-7 in professional MMA, including a 9-4 UFC record. Romero scored victories over the likes of Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and Chris Weidman, but was unsuccessful in middleweight title challenges of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.

    Romero then had a five-fight stint in Bellator, going 3-2 — which included the win over Santos and an unsuccessful title shot against then-Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.

    Santos fought in the UFC for about a decade, but his biggest stretch came when he jumped from middleweight to light heavyweight. Santos would finish Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa, and Jan Blachowicz, receiving a title shot against then-champ Jon Jones at UFC 239. Santos would lose in a controversial decision. That would be the start of a downward stretch Santos never recovered from, losing all but one of his fights since the Jones loss.

    After his tenure with the UFC, Santos fought in the PFL, debuting with a loss to Rob Wilkinson — a bout that would be overturned to a no contest.

    Brunson came into the UFC as Strikeforce was being merged with the promotion and slowly being folded. Brunson earned victories over the likes of Lorenz Larkin, Uriah Hall, Lyoto Machida, and Kevin Holland, as well as losses to Souza, Whittaker, Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Jared Cannonier, and Dricus Du Plessis. Brunson fought in MMA once after his UFC days — a win over Ray Cooper III at the 2023 PFL World Championships.

    Ladd debuted in Invicta in 2015 and went unbeaten in five fights before joining the UFC two years later. Ladd won her first three UFC bouts before a loss to Germaine de Randamie. Ladd would struggle with consistent success — and had a near-two-year period of inactivity at one point — before parting ways with the UFC after a 2022 loss to Raquel Pennington.

    Ladd debuted in PFL in November of that year with a win over former Bellator champion Julia Budd. She then competed in the 2023 women’s featherweight season, losing to Olena Kolesnyk but defeating Karolina Sobek. Ladd missed the playoffs but fought in a showcase bout later that year, losing to current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison.

    Ladd’s last MMA fight came at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris in May 2024, defeating Ekaterina Shakalova.

  • Watch Yoel Romero Score Last-Minute Dirty Boxing KO Of Ras Hylton

    Watch Yoel Romero Score Last-Minute Dirty Boxing KO Of Ras Hylton

    Though it took until the legitimate last minute, Yoel Romero was able to get a finish before the bell, defeating Ras Hylton in the main event of Dirty Boxing 1 in Miami.

    Romero circled around the ring to start things, getting a feel for Hylton, while the tall fighter looked to step and reach to land early jabs. The former UFC title challenger finally started to get things going in the final minute, landing an overhand left.

    The action seemed to slowly pick up to start the second, with Hylton trying to press forward. Romero worked his jab, however, but trying to be patient and moving in and away from Hylton’s range. The Cuban’s pacing picked up but still was not enough to do much damage.

    Romero and Hylton picked things up in the final round, with the former even landing a knockdown in the first minute — though he elected to let Hylton up than go for ground-and-pound.

    With less than a minute to go in the fight, “Soldier of God” landed a body shot and followed it up with a flurry that dropped Hylton. The referee waved the fight off there, giving Romero the win.

    Yoel Romero KOs Ras Hylton At Dirty Boxing 1

    Romero, a former UFC middleweight title challenger, spent about seven years with the promotion before joining Bellator in 2021. He fought four fights for the promotion, including an unsuccessful challenge of the Bellator light heavyweight title, before it was purchased by PFL. In Romero’s most recent MMA fight, he defeated Thiago Santos at the PFL vs. Bellator show in Saudi Arabia last year.

    Romero made his Dirty Boxing debut at the premier event in November, knocking out Duane Crespo. He’s since been drafted as part of the Global Fight League and is expecting to debut against Gegard Mousasi on June 22 in New York.

    Hylton, a veteran of Bellator, PFL, and Cage Titans, last fought in a loss against Jahshua Marsh at Cage Titans 61 in September 2023.

  • Dirty Boxing 1 Results & Highlights: Yoel Romero, Andrei Arlovski Win

    Dirty Boxing 1 Results & Highlights: Yoel Romero, Andrei Arlovski Win

    The Dirty Boxing Championship staged its inaugural event Saturday night, and MMA News has you covered with all the action.

    Dirty Boxing, co-created by former UFC fighter and BKFC star Mike Perry, mixes together elements of boxing and MMA. Bouts take place in a smaller 18-foot ring and are fought across three three-minute rounds. All strikes with the hands and elbows are legal, and fighters who score knockdowns can use follow-up ground strikes providing they remain on their feet.

    After hosting a small, invite-only event last November, which culminated in Yoel Romero knocking out Duane Crespo, Dirty Boxing returned for its first high-profile, streamed event on March 22.

    “Soldier of God” once again topped the lineup, as the former UFC title challenger continued his winning form away from the cage at the expense of Ras Hylton.

    The co-main event feature another prominent ex-UFC star in Andrei Arlovski. The heavyweight veteran had his hand raised over Terrance Hodges in what marked his first combat sports outing since exiting MMA’s biggest stage.

    With the event at The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in Miami conclude, see below for the full results, followed by a replay via the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    Dirty Boxing 1 Results

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Yoel Romero def. Ras Hylton via KO: R3, 2:26
    • Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Andrei Arlovski def. Terrance Hodges via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 2:00
    • Light Heavyweight: Ulysses Diaz def. Brian Maxwell via TKO: R1, 1:22
    • Welterweight: Mike Breeden def. Keith Speed via TKO: R1, 2:46
    • Heavyweight: Robinson Perez def. Zac Pauga via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Alexander Schenk def. Tristan Gallichan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
    • Middleweight: Jeff Craig def. Oluwale Bamgbose via TKO: R2, 0:25
    • Heavyweight: Rakim Cleveland def. Maurice Greene via KO: R1, 0:45
    • Bantamweight: Kat Nelson def. Claudia Zamora via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: CJ Brant def. Gabriel Macario via TKO: R1

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Middleweight: Sean Hotusing def. Diego Romo via decision (scorecards not read)
    • Lightweight: Corey Jackson def. Marcellus Wallace via KO: R1
    • Welterweight: Guilherme Bastos def. Gabriel Morales via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

    Dirty Boxing 1 Highlights

  • Yoel Romero Announces ‘Shogun’ Rua Out, Gegard Mousasi In For GFL Fight On June 22

    Yoel Romero Announces ‘Shogun’ Rua Out, Gegard Mousasi In For GFL Fight On June 22

    It seems that former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero has a new target in his sights for this year’s Global Fight League launch.

    After years of preparation, the GFL is expected to stage events for the first time this year, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. The organization initially claimed that 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. 

    Following the release of the six city teams, as well as a manager and head coach for each, 120 fighters were picked as part of the inaugural draft toward the start of 2025. And while little is known about dates and venues for the first events, which were originally slated for April, the matchups have begun to roll out.

    Among the first to emerge was a clash between Team Miami’s Romero and fellow former UFC veteran Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, of Team São Paulo. That bout, however, looks to be no more.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Romero announced that his fight with Rua is off and he will instead collide with Team London’s Gegard Mousasi. “Soldier of God” also revealed a date and location for the clash.

    “(Rua’s) out, he is out. And now, I moved for middleweight again and I am fighting Gegard Mousasi,” Romero said. “That is happening June 22 in New York. That is the fight that is coming for me. I don’t know what happened with ‘Shogun,’ but my manager called me last week. … I said, ‘Okay, beautiful, I am ready.’

    “For me, both guys are legends. I have very good respect, big respect for both guys,” Romero continued. “Both have a very good history in MMA. For me, it is a great honor to fight now Gegard. But I (was) very excited when the people said ‘Shogun.’ … This is a medal for me. Because when I finish in my career, I’d say, ‘I fought with that guy.’”

    First-round matchups taking place in June would seemingly disrupt the GFL’s original plan of 15 events up until August. And with March coming to its end, the goal of April cards also appears to have been scrapped.

    The legitimacy of the new organization has also been brought into question due to a number of fake announcements. Both Rashad Evans and Jeremy Stephens were drafted in January but have since rejected claims they signed contracts. “Lil Heathen” has now re-signed with the UFC instead.

    While 48 years old, the game doesn’t appear to have left Yoel Romero as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.

    He’s currently days away from returning to action under the banner of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship this weekend.

  • Yoel Romero Sends Former Opponent Israel Adesanya Advice Amid UFC Losing Skid

    Yoel Romero Sends Former Opponent Israel Adesanya Advice Amid UFC Losing Skid

    Former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero has laid out some words of wisdom for a struggling ex-foe of his.

    Israel Adesanya once ruled over the 185-pound division with an iron fist and surged toward legendary status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. But he’s currently enduring the worst run of his career to date.

    “The Last Stylebender” has won just once since 2022, with four of his last five bouts ending in defeat. The Nigerian-New Zealander most recently made an unsuccessful return to non-title competition following losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. He was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov at the UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia early last month.

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Adesanya. While some in the community have advised retirement, one face familiar to the Lagos-born star has outlined a potential path for the former champ to get back to his best.

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Yoel Romero sent some advice the way of Adesanya, stressing the importance of rest and recovery.

    “Israel, he needed time, he needed rest,” Romero said. “That’s what I think. He needs to rest a little bit, because too much damage. The problem is, the UFC (doesn’t) give you time. When the UFC calls you, you need to come because you have a contract.

    “Now, he needs to think about training. Not too hard; not too hard in the sparring,” Romero continued. “He needs to go to training like a therapy; recovery for the body. He doesn’t need now too much sparring. That is my opinion for Israel. If he wants to be back again, he needs to recover the body. He’s still training very hard; it’s not good.”

    Adesanya defended the middleweight title against Romero at UFC 248 in early 2020. The highly anticipated clash turned out to be a lackluster contest across five rounds that was firmly overshadowed by the co-main event war between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

    While “The Last Stylebender” looks to regain his winning form in the UFC, Romero is days away from his second fight for Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship this weekend.

    “Soldier of God” is also expected to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the Global Fight League, though dates and venues for the new promotion’s first events remain undisclosed.

  • Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2, Yoel Romero vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua Announced By Global Fight League

    Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold 2, Yoel Romero vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua Announced By Global Fight League

    A number of veterans have their first outings under the Global Fight League (GFL) banner confirmed, and the opening matchups include a rematch between former UFC middleweight champions Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold.

    After years of preparation, the GFL is set to stage events for the first time this coming April, as the promotion looks to succeed in the fight game with a team-based format and season structure. 15 cards are planned up until August, after which two playoff events and one final will take place before the year’s end. 

    Following the release of the six city teams, as well as a manager and head coach for each, 120 fighters were picked as part of the inaugural draft last month. And while little is known about dates and venues for the first events in April, the matchups have begun to roll out.

    The official GFL social media account announced the first fight on Thursday. As expected after Luke Rockhold was traded from Team Dubai to Team Los Angeles, the Californian will run it back with Team New York’s Weidman, a fellow former UFC middleweight champion.

    The pair first collided way back in 2015, with Rockhold emerging victorious from the Fight of the Night at UFC 194 after stopping the then-defending champ in round four.

    Rockhold, who was also the last 185-pound titleholder in Strikeforce, has competed just once in MMA since 2019. After consecutive knockout losses to Yoel Romero and Jan Błachowicz, the 40-year-old memorably bowed out of the UFC in defeat against Paulo Costa. He’s since gone 1-1 away from MMA, losing to Mike Perry in BKFC and stopping Joe Schilling under the Karate Combat banner.

    Weidman, meanwhile, initially appeared to announce his retirement from the sport last month but was quickly announced as the GFL’s latest big-name signing. The Baldwin native has had his hand raised once in three fights since returning from a broken leg. Weidman was most recently finished by Eryk Anders at UFC 309 last November.

    The rematch between Rockhold and Weidman wasn’t the only confirmed first-round matchup, with the GFL also revealing a clash between Team Miami’s Yoel Romero and Maurício “Shogun” Rua of Team São Paulo.

    The inclusion of Rua was among many that raised concerns in the MMA community. The 43-year-old looked a shadow of his former self when he was knocked out by Ihor Potieria in January 2023. Despite the retirement that followed that fight being widely supported, the former UFC and PRIDE standout now has Romero’s power to deal with.

    While four years older than Rua, the game doesn’t appear to have left “Soldier of God” as of yet. Since a loss in his Bellator debut, the Cuban has won three out of four fights in the cage, most recently defeating fellow former UFC title challenger Thiago Santos under the PFL banner last February.

  • Lyoto Machida Denies Being Put Into A Coma By Knockout Loss To Yoel Romero

    Lyoto Machida Denies Being Put Into A Coma By Knockout Loss To Yoel Romero

    Yoel Romero recently made a surprising claim about the lasting impact of his fight against Lyoto Machida.

    Once a top contender who faced many of MMA’s elite, Romero suggested that his 2015 knockout victory over Machida had severe consequences for “The Dragon.”

    Speaking on Mike Perry’s OverDogs Podcast, Romero alleged that Machida “wasn’t the same” after their fight, claiming the former UFC champion suffered “brutal damage” and even went into a coma. Romero said he was so concerned that he reached out to Machida’s management team for updates on his condition. He used the alleged incident to highlight the extreme risks fighters take inside the cage.

    However, Machida quickly refuted Romero’s claims, telling MMA Fighting that the story was entirely inaccurate.

    “I heard about [Romero’s comments], but I didn’t watch [the video],” Machida said. “But that’s not true at all. What happened was I broke my nose in that fight and had surgery. But there was no coma or anything like that. That never happened.”

    Machida dismissed the idea that he suffered serious long-term damage, pointing to his extensive fighting career after the Romero bout.

    “It makes no sense that a fighter would get in a coma and then fight like 20 times after that,” Machida laughed. “I had nose surgery because I broke my nose. I had to stay in Miami for a week — because I lived in Los Angeles and couldn’t fly with the nasal packing. That’s basically what happened. It’s normal stuff for us that fight, right?”

    After his loss to Romero, Machida competed nine more times as a professional, winning four of those bouts. He eventually retired from MMA in 2022 after a knockout loss to Fabian Edwards in Bellator.

  • Yoel Romero Claims He Put Lyoto Machida Into A Coma With UFC Knockout

    Yoel Romero Claims He Put Lyoto Machida Into A Coma With UFC Knockout

    Yoel Romero has made a startling claim regarding former opponent Lyoto Machida.

    While he’s now nearly 50 and past his prime, Romero was once regarded as an extremely dangerous competitor. Throughout his career, the Cuban faced some of the biggest names in MMA but never secured a championship, though he came close on multiple occasions.

    During an appearance on Mike Perry’s OverDogs Podcast, Romero revealed that his knockout victory over Machida had serious, lasting consequences for “The Dragon.” They met in June 2015 at a UFC Fight Night event, where Romero finished him in the third round.

    “Lyoto was too worn out,” he said. “Let’s put it this way — after he fought me, he wasn’t the same. He suffered brutal damage. You know he was in a coma, right? He was in a coma. I was worried about him. I kept talking to his managers because he was in a coma. That’s why I respect any gladiator that does this, because your life is at risk, bro.”

    Following his loss to Romero, Machida went on to compete nine more times as a professional, winning four of those bouts. He retired from MMA in 2022 after a knockout loss to Fabian Edwards in Bellator.

    “Soldier of God,” meanwhile, is coming off a knockout win in Dirty Boxing and is currently part of the Global Fight League roster.

  • Global Fight League Announces Cities & Team Managers For Launch Year, “Shogun” Rua & Yoel Romero Among Latest Signings

    Global Fight League Announces Cities & Team Managers For Launch Year, “Shogun” Rua & Yoel Romero Among Latest Signings

    The Global Fight League (GFL) has revealed a range of crucial updates about how the structure of the budding MMA organization will look.

    The newly launched promotion has already secured an array of over 300 fighters, including several high-profile former stars from renowned organizations such as the UFC, Bellator, and PFL. The GFL is said to make its highly anticipated debut this April, with the precise commencement date yet to be revealed.

    The GFL introduces an innovative team-based format, featuring six teams from cities around the world competing in a league structure that includes playoffs. The first draft is scheduled for Jan. 24.

    The GFL disclosed the latest draft entrants in a recent press release, as well as the cities that will represent each team and the managers and coaches set to lead them.

    The new draft pool features notable names such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Yoel Romero, Chad Mendes, Renan Barao, Douglas Lima, Ovince Saint Preux and Todd Duffee. Meanwhile, the six teams will represent some of the world’s most iconic cities: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, São Paulo, London and Dubai.

    Here’s a look at the managers and coaches appointed to lead the six teams in the GFL:

    • Los Angeles: UFC Hall of Famer Wanderlei Silva has been named the manager of Team Los Angeles, with the renowned Rafael Cordeiro stepping in as the head coach.
    • Miami: Thiago Alves will manage Team Miami, with Conan Silveira as the head coach.
    • New York: The manager for Team New York is still to be announced, with the team set to be coached by the famed Ray Longo.
    • São Paulo: Team São Paulo will be led by Brazil’s own former UFC champion Lyoto Machida as manager, with the legendary Andre Pederneiras as the team’s coach.
    • London: UFC veteran Luke Barnatt will take the reins as manager, while Carl Prince of Manchester Top Team will serve as the head coach for Team London.

    Darren Owen, the company’s co-founder, has outlined an array of unique benefits tailored to prioritize fighters’ welfare.

    These include comprehensive training support, insurance coverage, a 50-50 revenue-sharing model, pension plans, and various other perks aimed at ensuring financial stability and fostering long-term professional well-being for the athletes.

    The promotion has, however, come under fire for signing a number of aging veterans for the upcoming draft, including Frank Mir, Marlon Moraes, and Tyron Woodley.

  • VIDEO: Yoel Romero Lands Quick Knockout At Inaugural Dirty Boxing Championship Event

    VIDEO: Yoel Romero Lands Quick Knockout At Inaugural Dirty Boxing Championship Event

    Former UFC and Bellator title challenger Yoel Romero wasted little time dispatching his opponent at the very first Dirty Boxing Championship event.

    To the surprise of many, Romero was a last-minute addition to the maiden card for Mike Perry’s new combat sports promotion. The striking-only organization announced the Cuban’s matchup last Friday, a day before the private event in Miami.

    “Soldier of God” — who unsuccessfully challenged Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya for UFC gold, as well as Vadim Nemkov for champ status under the Bellator banner — headlined opposite Power Slap competitor Duane Crespo.

    At the event, which had limited promotion and did not stream online, Romero quickly showed his superiority over Crespo by destroying “The Iron Giant” inside the very first round.

    Fights under the Dirty Championship Boxing banner consist of three-minute rounds (three for normal bouts and five for main events) and are fought with 5oz gloves. The fighters are also allowed to throw elbows.

    The result on Saturday came in Romero’s first combat sports appearance since this past February, when he got the better of fellow former UFC contender Thiago Santos at the PFL vs. Bellator event in Saudi Arabia.

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead for Romero in 2025, and whether or not his next outing will see a return to mixed martial arts following a foray into the ring at Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship.

  • MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 16, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Sonnen believes Jones’ misdemeanor charges could be less serious than they appear to be
    • Sterling books grappling match on Karate Combat
    • Romero announces plans for his next fight

    Chael Sonnen Questions Whether Jon Jones’ Case Has Been Over Exaggerated

    Jon Jones is dealing with another controversial police charge following an interaction at his house with a drug-testing agent.

    The UFC heavyweight champion has been charged with two misdemeanors where, if proven guilty, he could face fines or even jail time.

    His former rival, Chael Sonnen, has some issues with the way that this process has been carried out following the initial reports from April.

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Sonnen questioned both why the decision has taken so long based on the evidence they have and whether the case has been exaggerated with the misdemeanor charges.

    “The agents came and did what they did but there is a significant difference guys, in being a jerk and being a criminal. There’s a significant difference in being rude and committing a crime and it’s annoying for me to have to read this about Jon and read that he’s got to deal with this. It’s annoying for me even if not the municipality that I live in…

    “it’s annoying to me that on a double hit misdemeanor where there are not witnesses because – there’s a witness there but they’re not supporting the claim. There isn’t video cameras of everything but there is video surveillance and it doesn’t support the claim. It seems like a tough one and it still took those guys four, five, six [months], however long this is to make a decision even in this case.”

    Aljamain Sterling Set To Compete on Karate Combat’s Pit Submission Series On July 25

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is set to make his Karate Combat debut on the Pit Submission Series.

    The striking-focused promotion recently started opening up their events with several grappling bouts to kick off the show.

    Sterling is set to compete on July 25 in Nashville at Karate Combat 48, where he faces Jay Jay Wilson.

    “Funkmaster” has competed in several grappling matches in recent times with this being his first since he made his successful move up to featherweight with a win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.

    The event is set to be headlined by the heavyweight title rematch between Sam Alvey and Antônio Arroyo.

    https://twitter.com/KarateCombat/status/1813033307564875936

    Yoel Romero Says He’s Fighting Corey Anderson For The Bellator Light Heavyweight Title On October 19

    Despite rumours of him making the jump to BKFC, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero appears to be gearing up for his Bellator return.

    “Soldier of God” has been inactive since his decision win over Thiago Santos in February at PFL vs Bellator and according to him, he’s now set up for a title shot.

    Romero recently spoke in an interview on the Overdogs Espanol podcast where he claimed that he will be fighting Corey Anderson for the light heavyweight title on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

    The Bellator Champions Series is currently set to host events in Chicago on October 12 and Paris on November 16. While there is no event announced as of yet for Saudi Arabia, the PFL is expected to stage another pay-per-view in Riyadh this fall, with names like Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg expected to take part.

    Perhaps Romero has leaked the date for that major show…

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Yoel Romero Set To Return To Bellator Against Melvin Manhoef On May 6

    Yoel Romero will be getting back in the Bellator cage in Paris.

    After his promotional debut with Bellator didn’t go his way, Yoel Romero is scheduled to take another shot at a win. Romero will be taking on Melvin Manhoef at the upcoming Bellator Paris event set to take place on May 6. The news was first announced by the promotion in a press release. This matchup will serve as the co-main event.

    The news of Bellator holding an event in France was met with applause by fighters and fans. Mixed martial arts as a sport was not legal in France until 2020. With the difficulty of holding an event during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of professional events held in the country has been minimal. Bellator held an event in Paris back in October of 2020 and it was a great success, so much so that they are doing it again.

    Adding Romero to this card will bring the star power that fans want to see. His signing with the organization after leaving the UFC was met with high praise. Unfortunately, Romero didn’t start off the way he had planned. He lost his first Bellator fight back in September to Phil Davis. He will have the chance to right the ship against Manhoef.

    Manhoef will be coming into this fight having lost his last outing as well. He lost via KO against Corey Anderson in Nov. of 2020. Prior to that, however, he won two in a row, both in Europe. Perhaps fighting in Europe could be his lucky charm, as he will have the chance to see against the hype of Romero.

    Bellator Paris will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France on May. 6.

    The full fight card to date is as follows:

    Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #C-Ryan Bader (29-7, 1 NC) vs. #2-Cheick Kongo (31-11-2, 1 NC)

    Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Yoel Romero (13-6) vs. #10-Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1, 2 NC)

    Lightweight Bout: Søren Bak (15-1) vs. Saul Rogers (15-4)

    Lightweight Bout: Yves Landu (16-9) vs. Gavin Hughes (10-2)

    Who do you have winning this light heavyweight matchup?

  • Archives: Bisping Wants GSP & Romero Fights Before Retirement (2017)

    After the following article was published, Michael Bisping had two more matches in his MMA career: Georges St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum. It wasn’t the “perfect scenario” he had mapped out, especially considering that he lost both bouts, but you can relive how Bisping envisioned his career winding down in the following article published on this day five years ago, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 30, 2017, 12:26 PM]

    Headline: Bisping: Fighting GSP & Romero Would Be ‘Perfect Scenario’ Before Retirement

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr

    Michael Bisping isn’t getting any younger.

    The current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight titleholder will be 38 years of age before his next title defense. “The Count” is currently out with a knee injury and won’t be back until at least May.

    With all that he has accomplished, it’s easy to see Bisping as a future UFC Hall of Famer. Before the champion goes, he wants mega fights that are the most lucrative. On his SiriusXM show, “The Countdown” (via Flo Combat), Bisping reiterated his desire for a “big money fight” or two:

    “I said I want to be a part of the biggest fights possible. Whether that’s Yoel Romero, Georges St-Pierre or whether that’s Jacare [Souza] or Anderson Silva, I just want to be a part of the biggest fights ever earning as much money as possible.”

    One would think the potential match-up that would make the most money is one with Georges St. Pierre. “Rush” left the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) with nine straight successful title defenses. He was also the UFC’s most consistent pay-per-view (PPV) draw during his run.

    “The Count” insists that he doesn’t care who his next opponent is, as long as he brings in the cash.

    “We will get the surgery out the way and when it’s done, it’s done and then I’ll fight Yoel Romero if I have to and I’ll whip his ass and if it’s GSP I’ll whip his ass. I just want the biggest fight possible on the biggest fight card possible.”

    It isn’t crazy to think Bisping may get his wish. He has been a mainstay with the promotion since 2006 and his body has been put through the wringer. The ideal set of circumstances would be for the champion to face “GSP,” then Romero to close his career.

    “Yes, that would be the perfect scenario.”