Yoel Romero

“Soldier of God”

MMA · Active

17-7RECORD

14KO / TKO WINS

0SUBMISSION WINS

3DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Yoel Romero Palacio
Nickname	Soldier of God
Date of birth	30 Apr 1977
Nationality	Cuban
Birthplace	Pinar del Río, Cuba
Lives in	Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
Division	Light Heavyweight / Middleweight
Team	American Top Team
Height	178 cm (5′10″)
Reach	185 cm (73″)
Stance	Southpaw
Years active	since 2009
Status	Active
Pro debut	20 Dec 2009
Last fight	Win vs Alex Nicholson, 1 May 2026

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 10 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

1999 World Champion, freestyle wrestling (85 kg)
2000 Olympic silver medalist, freestyle wrestling
2003 Pan American Games gold medalist
Interim Real American Freestyle Light Heavyweight Champion
2016 ESPN Knockout of the Year

Background

Yoel Romero is a Cuban-born former freestyle wrestler who won the 1999 world title and a 2000 Olympic silver medal. He later became a mixed martial artist, competing in the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator, and challenged for the UFC Middleweight and Bellator Light Heavyweight titles.

Fight history

24 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Win	Alex Nicholson	TKO (submission to punches)	1	1:11	Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 10	1 May 2026	Miami, Florida, U.S.	Bare-knuckle MMA
Win	Thiago Santos	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	PFL vs. Bellator	24 Feb 2024	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Loss	Vadim Nemkov	Decision (unanimous)	5	5:00	Bellator 297	16 Jun 2023	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	For Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship
Win	Melvin Manhoef	KO (elbows)	3	3:34	Bellator 285	23 Sep 2022	Dublin, Ireland
Win	Alex Polizzi	TKO (punches)	3	4:59	Bellator 280	6 May 2022	Paris, France
Loss	Phil Davis	Decision (split)	3	5:00	Bellator 266	18 Sep 2021	San Jose, California, U.S.
Loss	Israel Adesanya	Decision (unanimous)	5	5:00	UFC 248	7 Mar 2020	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	For UFC Middleweight Championship
Loss	Paulo Costa	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 241	17 Aug 2019	Anaheim, California, U.S.
Loss	Robert Whittaker	Decision (split)	5	5:00	UFC 225	9 Jun 2018	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Romero missed weight (185.2 lb); non-title
Win	Luke Rockhold	KO (punches)	3	1:48	UFC 221	11 Feb 2018	Perth, Australia	Interim title bout; Romero missed weight (187.7 lb) and was ineligible for the title
Loss	Robert Whittaker	Decision (unanimous)	5	5:00	UFC 213	8 Jul 2017	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.	For interim UFC Middleweight Championship
Win	Chris Weidman	KO (flying knee)	3	0:24	UFC 205	12 Nov 2016	New York City, New York, U.S.
Win	Ronaldo Souza	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 194	12 Dec 2015	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Lyoto Machida	KO (elbows)	3	1:38	UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero	27 Jun 2015	Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Win	Tim Kennedy	TKO (punches)	3	0:58	UFC 178	27 Sep 2014	Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win	Brad Tavares	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne	19 Apr 2014	Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Win	Derek Brunson	TKO (punches and elbows)	3	3:23	UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou	15 Jan 2014	Duluth, Georgia, U.S.
Win	Ronny Markes	KO (punches)	3	1:39	UFC: Fight for the Troops 3	6 Nov 2013	Fort Campbell, Kentucky, U.S.
Win	Clifford Starks	KO (flying knee and punches)	1	1:32	UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez	20 Apr 2013	San Jose, California, U.S.	Middleweight debut
Loss	Rafael Cavalcante	KO (punches)	2	4:51	Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov	10 Sep 2011	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Win	Laszlo Eck	KO (punch)	1	0:33	Fight of the Night 2011	27 May 2011	Greding, Germany
Win	Ņikita Petrovs	TKO (retirement)	1	2:58	Superior FC 4	5 Mar 2011	Giessen, Germany
Win	Michał Fijałka	TKO (retirement)	3	4:05	Infinite Fighting Federation: The Eternal Struggle	8 Oct 2010	Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
Win	Sascha Weinpolter	TKO (punches)	1	0:48	Fight of the Night 2009	20 Dec 2009	Nuremberg, Germany	Light heavyweight debut