Tag: Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero lands brutal ground strikes KO win against Melvin Manhoef – Bellator 285 Highlights

Yoel RomeroFormer multipe time UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero lands his second consecutive victory under the Bellator MMA banner — sending veteran Suriname striker, Melvin Manhoef into retirement with a series of brutal third round ground elbows in the co-main event of Bellator 285. Romero, who was originally slated to feature against Manhoef back in […]

Yoel Romero

Former multipe time UFC middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero lands his second consecutive victory under the Bellator MMA banner — sending veteran Suriname striker, Melvin Manhoef into retirement with a series of brutal third round ground elbows in the co-main event of Bellator 285.

Romero, who was originally slated to feature against Manhoef back in Paris earlier this year, instead drew Alex Polizzi on short-notice, landing a third round buzzer-beating KO win to boot, fracturing Polizzi’s jaw in the process.

Utilizing his often-underutilized grappling and wrestling in the first round against Manhoef, Romero managed to move to guard after a clever leg kick and the hook combination.

Taking Manhoef down at the cage fence early in the third frame, Romero postured up with just over a minute remaining in the third and final frame, raining down with ground strikes and a trio of brutal elbows, rendering the retiring, Manhoef unconscious.

Below, catch the highlights from Yoel Romero’s stunning KO of Melvin Manhoef

Melvin Manhoef will retire after Yoel Romero fight: “This is a great opponent to say farewell to all the fans”

Melvin Manhoef, Yoel Romero, Bellator 285Veteran MMA fighter Melvin Manhoef is set to retire after Bellator 285 in Dublin, Ireland. The light heavyweight will have his final fight against fellow MMA veteran Yoel Romero in the co-main event on Sept. 23.  The fight was originally scheduled to take place in May but Manhoef pulled out due to a hand injury. […]

Melvin Manhoef, Yoel Romero, Bellator 285

Veteran MMA fighter Melvin Manhoef is set to retire after Bellator 285 in Dublin, Ireland. The light heavyweight will have his final fight against fellow MMA veteran Yoel Romero in the co-main event on Sept. 23. 

The fight was originally scheduled to take place in May but Manhoef pulled out due to a hand injury. Now, the 46-year-old will return to the octagon for the first time in nearly two years. 

Manhoef spoke with the media at the Bellator 285 pre-fight press conference, where he announced his intentions to retire. It will be the last fight in his 26-year career. 

“Yeah, I think it’s going to be it. It’s the last fight of my contract with Bellator and I think I’ve done a lot of things,” Manhoef said. ”There’s also time to go and I think this is a great opponent to say farewell to all the fans because this fight is epic. It’s going to be a hard fight…the fans will be the winner.” (Transcribed via MMANews).

Melvin Manhoef Has Enjoyed His Two-Decade Career: “I Think I Have Given People A Lot of Fun to Watch”

The Surinamese-born fighter is 32-15-1 with 2 no contests in his MMA career. 29 of his wins have been knockouts. Along with Bellator, he has competed for One FC, Strikeforce, K-1, DREAM, RINGS, and KSW. 

Manhoef last fought in Nov. 2020 where he faced Corey Anderson in a losing effort. He is 3-3 in his last six fights. 

The MMA veteran is motivated to put on a show for the fans against a tough opponent in Yoel Romero. Before signing with Bellator in 2020, Romero had fought for Strikeforce and UFC. The 45-year-old is coming off a TKO win over Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280 in May. 

“Everything in life has a beginning and an end. Hopefully, in his next and future life as a family man, he contributes to society with everything this sport has put in him [like] discipline, dedication and respect,” Romero said. “When we’re in the ring, It is what it is. I come to do my job and I hope he does his.” (English translation by Marc Ray).

Manhoef admits that it’s hard to say goodbye to MMA but is poised to get one final win to wrap up his career.

“I’m going to be there and do the best I can and enjoy what I do all the time [by] hurting people and knocking people out,” Manhoef said. “I really felt alive when I was doing this training camp [but] I’ve been doing this for 28 years now so it’s hard. I have to leave it to the next generation.“

Romero Names “Vital” Thing He Receives From Bellator

Bellator MMA light heavyweight contender Yoel Romero is more than pleased with his treatment in the promotion, naming the “vital” thing he receives. Following a failed title challenger against reigning middleweight king Israel Adesanya at U…

Bellator MMA light heavyweight contender Yoel Romero is more than pleased with his treatment in the promotion, naming the “vital” thing he receives. Following a failed title challenger against reigning middleweight king Israel Adesanya at UFC 248 in 2020, which followed losses to Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa for a three-fight skid, Romero announced his…

Continue Reading Romero Names “Vital” Thing He Receives From Bellator at MMA News.

Bellator 285 Results/Highlights: Henderson & Romero Victorious

Bellator MMA returned to Dublin, Ireland tonight with a special main event between former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Peter Queally. Since his debut with Bellator MMA, Henderson has had a difficult time with the company. By unanimous …

Bellator MMA returned to Dublin, Ireland tonight with a special main event between former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Peter Queally. Since his debut with Bellator MMA, Henderson has had a difficult time with the company. By unanimous decision, he lost his first fight against Andrey Koreshkov at Bellator 153 on Apr. 22, 2016….

Continue Reading Bellator 285 Results/Highlights: Henderson & Romero Victorious at MMA News.

Romero/Manhoef Bout Has Just Become Much More Meaningful

Bellator light heavyweight Melvin Manhoef’s upcoming fight against Yoel Romero just became bigger following Manhoef’s recent admission. Romero and Manhoef will square off in the Bellator 285 co-main event this Friday in Dublin, IE. The even…

Bellator light heavyweight Melvin Manhoef’s upcoming fight against Yoel Romero just became bigger following Manhoef’s recent admission. Romero and Manhoef will square off in the Bellator 285 co-main event this Friday in Dublin, IE. The event is headlined by a lightweight matchup between Benson Henderson and Peter Queally. During a week in which there are…

Continue Reading Romero/Manhoef Bout Has Just Become Much More Meaningful at MMA News.

Yoel Romero Plans Major Change To MMA Career

Bellator light heavyweight and former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero wants to return to his old stomping grounds following his next fight. Romero will face Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin on Sept. 23. He returns to the Bellator cage following a vic…

Bellator light heavyweight and former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero wants to return to his old stomping grounds following his next fight. Romero will face Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin on Sept. 23. He returns to the Bellator cage following a vicious knockout of Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280, after he was originally supposed to…

Continue Reading Yoel Romero Plans Major Change To MMA Career at MMA News.