Today we’re going to look at ‘The Soldier of God’ Yoel Romero and his UFC career.
‘The Soldier of God’ has competed in the UFC since way back in April of 2013 and over his whole career, he has accumulated a pro-MMA record of thirteen wins and four losses.
Romero started his UFC career in 2013 on the undercard of UFC on FOX: Henderson VS Melendez with a first-round flying knee knockout victory of Clifford Starks. Then in November of the same year, Yoel fought Ronny Markes on UFC Fight Night: Fight For The Troops defeating him in the third round via knockout.
After the Markes fight, it didn’t take long for Romero to step back in the octagon competing in January 2014. On that night he fought on the Rockhold vs Philippou card and defeated Derek Brunson via knockout in the third round. Three months later he was fighting again this time against Brad Tavares winning the fight although he went the 3 round distance for the first time in his UFC career. Then September of the same year Yoel competed in his first UFC PPV event facing Tim Kennedy knocking him out in the third round.
Then in June of 2015 Romero headlined his first-ever UFC event facing the highly skilled fighter Lyoto Machida also defeating him via knockout in the third round. Then on the same card as Aldo vs McGregor, he defeated Jacare Souza in a 3 round war-winning by split decision.
Then after almost a year off he fought on the Alvarez vs McGregor defeating Chris Weidman in the third round with one of the most devastating flying knee knockouts the UFC has ever seen.
The win over Weidman earned Romero his first title shot against then-champion Robert Whittaker. This was the first time Yoel had gone the full five rounds in the fight. This fight was an absolute five-round war with Romero losing via unanimous decision, although many fans believe Yoel won this fight.
After the loss to Whittaker, Yoel then fought Luke Rockhold in February 2018 in a Middleweight Interim Title Fight. This fight had Romero brutally knocking Rockhold out in the 3rd round with a devastating punch. With this win, Romero earned himself another shot at champion Robert Whittaker. With the second fight again going the five-round distance and again Romero narrowly losing by split decision. Also, like the first fight, many fans believe Yoel was the true winner of this fight.
Then in August 2019 Romero fought Paulo Costa and lost via unanimous decision and like both Whittaker fights many believe Romero won this fight.
So what will 2020 have instore for Yoel? Will he challenge Champ Israel Adesanya? Or will he fight his way back up the Middleweight ladder? Only time will tell.
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