Tag: Yoel Romero

Ex-UFC star Yoel Romero reveals stunning BKFC move is in the works: ‘We are cooking something’

Yoel Romero reveals stunning BKFC move is in the works we're cooking something UFCFormer multiple-time UFC middleweight championship challenger, Yoel Romero has revealed interesting plans are already in place for him to…

Yoel Romero reveals stunning BKFC move is in the works we're cooking something UFC

Former multiple-time UFC middleweight championship challenger, Yoel Romero has revealed interesting plans are already in place for him to make a spectacular move to the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) – as soon as a couple of months.

Romero, a current Bellator MMA contender, most recently featured earlier this year at Bellator vs. PFL – turning in a unanimous decision victory over fellow former UFC title challenger, Thiago Santos.

Yoel Romero rules out retirement talk ahead of Bellator 297 I plan to fight until I'm 52
Mandatory Credit: Bellator MMA

Improving to 3-2 over the course of five fights in the promotion, Cuban veteran, Romero has also landed devastating knockout wins over both Alex Polizzi, and fellow veteran striker, Melvin Manhoef.

Challenging for light heavyweight gold back in June of last year, Olympic silver medal winner, Romero dropped a unanimous decision loss to Russian star, Vadim Nemkov.

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Yoel Romero reveals BKFC move is in the works

And weighing up his fighting future amid links to a host of contests and organization, Romero boldly claimed recently that he has the key to beat incumbent light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira – who headlines UFC 303 this weekend.

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Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports

“A lot of people talk and they think if I would fight against the big champ (Alex) Pereira in the UFC, 205lbs – he has plenty of experience,” Yoel Romero said on the Overdogs podcast. “[He] is a born striker, it would be an honor to fight people with caliber [like him]. He’s a man born of a women, same as me.”

“Everything is possible when you believe, he has two hands, I also have two hands – all can happen,” Yoel Romero continued. “The strategy to beat Alex is doing a well mixed fight. You can’t wrestle and wrestle [continuously], you can’t do striking and striking [continously].”

However, the veteran Pinar del Rio fan-favorite claimed a move to the BKFC was targeted – with a potential debut just months away.

“We are cooking something,” Yoel Romero explained. “You all know that I came from a boxing family and one thing I still have to do in life is fighting in a ring. But this time, only punches. We are cooking something, and something soon. We are not talking about a year – nothing about that. We are talking about months.”

How do you think Yoel Romero would fare in the BKFC?

Yoel Romero claims to have key to beat Alex Pereira in future clash: ‘It would be an honor to fight him’

Yoel Romero has key to beat Alex Pereira in future fight it would be an honorPromotional veteran, Yoel Romero has claimed to have the key to topple incoming UFC 303 headliner, Alex Pereira at…

Yoel Romero has key to beat Alex Pereira in future fight it would be an honor

Promotional veteran, Yoel Romero has claimed to have the key to topple incoming UFC 303 headliner, Alex Pereira at the light heavyweight limit, suggesting a strategy of mixing the martial arts is a surefire way to beat the Brazilian.

Romero, a former multiple-time title challenger at the middleweight limit during his tenure with the Dana White-led organization, has since made the move to Bellator MMA following the end of his UFC contract, fighting five times since.

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Sidelined since a PFL vs. Bellator event back in February, Cuban veteran, Romero landed a unanimous decision win over another former UFC title challenger, Thiago Santos – following an unsuccessful title charge against Vadim Nemkov. 

As for Pereira, the former middleweight champion an incumbent light heavyweight kingpin, headlines UFC 303 next weekend on short-notice in a title fight re-run against Jiri Prochazka.

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Yoel Romero previews Alex Pereira fight in the future

And faltering just once in the Octagon in the form of a second round knockout loss to Israel Adesanya back in April of last year, Sao Paulo knockout ace, Pereira can be defeated by mixing up a fighting strategy, according to Olympic wrestling medal winner, Romero.

Alex Pereira backed as new face of the company after accepting short notice title fight at UFC 303

“A lot of people talk and they think if I would fight against the big champ (Alex) Pereira in the UFC, 205lbs – he has plenty of experience,” Yoel Romero said on the Overdogs podcast. “[He] is a born striker, it would be an honor to fight people with caliber [like him]. He’s a man born of a women, same as me.”

“Everything is possible when you believe, he has two hands, I also have two hands – all can happen,” Yoel Romero continued. “The strategy to beat Alex is doing a well mixed fight. You can’t wrestle and wrestle [continuously], you can’t do striking and striking [continously].”

Would you have liked to see Yoel Romero and Alex Pereira in their primes?

Yoel Romero punishes Thiago Santos’ lead leg en route to unanimous decision – PFL vs. Bellator Highlights

Yoel RomeroYoel Romero got back into the win column on Saturday night inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia…

Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero got back into the win column on Saturday night inside the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at PFL vs. Bellator: Champs

Representing Bellator MMA, the former UFC title challenger delivered a methodical performance against the always-dangerous Thiago Santos. Through three rounds of action, the ‘Soldier of God’ punished Santos’ lead leg which stifled Santos’ offense through most of the 15-minute affair.

Official Result: Yoel Romero def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Romero moved to 16-7 in his mixed martial arts career and earned his first win since a September 2022 meeting with Melvin Manhoef. Santos fell to 22-12 and has now lost five of his last six fights.

Check Out Highlights From Yoel Romero vs. Thiago Santos at PFL vs. Bellator:

Ex-UFC referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy answers for controversial call made more than a decade ago

UFCFormer UFC middleweight contender Tim Kennedy woke up on Wednesday and decided to break out a can of 10-year-old beef. Kennedy, who was once a prominent name in the division after making a name for himself under the Strikeforce banner is still a little salty about a decade-old fight between himself and Yoel Romero. After […]

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Former UFC middleweight contender Tim Kennedy woke up on Wednesday and decided to break out a can of 10-year-old beef.

Kennedy, who was once a prominent name in the division after making a name for himself under the Strikeforce banner is still a little salty about a decade-old fight between himself and Yoel Romero.

After an impressive four-year stint in Strikeforce, Kennedy made his UFC debut in 2013 and promptly rattled off three-straight wins over Roger Gracie, Rafael Natal, and Michael Bisping. That streak led him to a big divisional matchup with Romero at UFC 178. Kennedy clearly lost the opening round, but he stormed back in the second, lighting up the ‘Soldier of God’ with a flurry of strikes.

In between the second and third rounds, there was some confusion that ultimately led to Romero being allowed to sit on his stool for longer than the traditional 60 seconds of allotted time between each round. With more time to recover, Romero came surging back in the third and finished Kennedy less than a minute into the final round.

Tim Kennedy was left fuming and apparently, a decade later, he’s still not over it.

“Robbery anniversary and the end of my fight career,” Kennedy wrote on X. “Dear Nevada Athletic Commission. NAC 467.728 If a combatant fails or refuses to resume competing when the bell sounds … the referee shall award a decision of TKO.”

Former UFC Ref John McCarthy Offers Explanation to Tim Kennedy

Kennedy’s comments didn’t go unnoticed by legendary UFC referee, and the man who just happened to be overseeing Kennedy’s fight with Romero that night, ‘Big’ John McCarthy.

Responding to Kennedy’s comments on social media, McCarthy offered a lengthy explanation for what happened that evening and why Romero was allowed to continue after taking longer than the allowed time.

“Tim you are an amazing person and I truly wish the very best life has to offer both you and your family,” McCarthy wrote. “Perhaps I could of done something differently during your fight. I wish I had the forethought to envision this exact situation before it ever occurred and that way I may have handled it differently.

“But you are not stating facts about what occurred. Yoel was told to stay seated by the NSAC Inspector. The truth is the Cutman hired and paid for by the UFC did not re-enter the cage when summoned to do so and that is what held up the start of the 3rd round. It is not Yoel’s fault that this occurred and the Cutman is not part of Yoel’s official corner. Language barriers did not help as well.

It’s egregious to penalize a person when they are not at fault and that is why there were no point deductions nor DQ. Was it completely fair to you? No I don’t believe it was, but there are times when there is no perfect solution in the moment. I hope the very best for you in all that you do.”

Most UFC fans were quick to suggest that Yoel Romero had intentionally milked the clock to allow himself more time to recover, but with McCarthy offering up his explanation, do you see it differently now?

Vadim Nemkov outlasts Yoel Romero in five-round war, earns unanimous decision – Bellator 297 Highlights

Yoel RomeroFormer UFC middleweight title contender Yoel Romero stepped into the main event spotlight at Bellator 297 on Friday night, challenging Vadim Nemkov for the Bellator light heavyweight championship. Romero earned his opportunity at Bellator gold after scoring back-to-back third-round knockouts against Alex Polizzi and Melvin Manhoef last year. Standing in his way of becoming a […]

Yoel Romero

Former UFC middleweight title contender Yoel Romero stepped into the main event spotlight at Bellator 297 on Friday night, challenging Vadim Nemkov for the Bellator light heavyweight championship.

Romero earned his opportunity at Bellator gold after scoring back-to-back third-round knockouts against Alex Polizzi and Melvin Manhoef last year. Standing in his way of becoming a champion for the first time in his career is Vadim Nemkov, a 16-2 fighter who has never been dated under the Bellator banner. In fact, Nemkov has not experienced a loss in more than seven years. The protege of heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko looked to keep that streak alive in the Second City.

Vadim Nemkov appeared to be in control throughout the first three rounds, but Romero showed signs of life near the halfway point of the fight, landing some solid strikes that appeared to have the defending champ in danger. Unfortunately, Romero’s moments were few and far between, as Nemkov’s speed dominated the contest. Romero was able to score a takedown in the final minute of the matchup but ultimately failed to do anything with it, leaving the contest in the hands of the judges.

Official Result: Vadim Nemkov def. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)

Check Out Highlights From Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero at Bellator 297 Below:

Yoel Romero rules out retirement talk ahead of Bellator 297 title fight: ‘I plan on fighting until I’m 52’

Yoel Romero rules out retirement talk ahead of Bellator 297 I plan to fight until I'm 52Ahead of his incoming Bellator MMA light heavyweight title fight this weekend in the main event of Bellator 297, former UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero has shut down talk of a potential retirement from mixed martial arts competition, insisting that he will compete to fight into his 50’s. Romero, 46, who returns to action […]

Yoel Romero rules out retirement talk ahead of Bellator 297 I plan to fight until I'm 52

Ahead of his incoming Bellator MMA light heavyweight title fight this weekend in the main event of Bellator 297, former UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero has shut down talk of a potential retirement from mixed martial arts competition, insisting that he will compete to fight into his 50’s.

Romero, 46, who returns to action this weekend in Chicago, Illinois, is slated to headline Bellator 297 in an undisputed light heavyweight title fight against Russian champion, Vadim Nemkov.

Taking headlining status, Romero’s first title shot under the Scott Coker-led banner, takes precedence over a bantamweight championship tilt between Sergio Pettis, and Patricio Pitbull – as the latter attempts to become a stunning three-weight world champion under the scrutiny of Bellator MMA.

In the midst of a two-fight winning run, Cuban fan-favorite, Yoel Romero most recently recorded a third round ground strikes KO win over fellow knockout artist, Melvin Manhoef in Dublin, Ireland in September of last year, following a buzzer-beating TKO win over Alex Polizzi in a co-main event clash in Paris earlier that year.

Yoel Romero rules out impending retirement from MMA ahead of Bellator 297

A veteran freestyle wrestler, Romero, an Olympic silver medalist to boot – who has been touted to consider an impending retirement from professional mixed martial arts competition, has ruled out the potential of a career curtain close this weekend – and for the foreseeable future.

“No chance, no chance,” Yoel Romero said in Spanish when discussing a potential retirement during a recent interview with MMA Junkie. “No chance, no chance at all. That doesn’t event go through my mind. I’ve got five more years in this sport. That’s what I think of. I plan on fighting until I’m 52. That’s my focus.” 

Boasting a 15-6 professional record, over the course of his professional career, Romero holds notable triumphs over the likes of Derek Brunson, Brad Tavares, Tim Kennedy, Lyoto Machida, Jacare Souza, Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, and the aforenoted, Manhoef.