Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero

Romero in Dagestan
Born Yoel Romero Palacio
April 30, 1977
Pinar del Río, Cuba
Other names Soldier of God
Residence Miami, Florida, United States
Nationality Cuban[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Division Light heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach 75.0 in (191 cm)[3]
Style Wrestling
Fighting out of Coconut Creek, Florida, United States
Team American Top Team
Wrestling Olympic Freestyle Wrestling
Years active 2009-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 10
Wins 9
By knockout 8
By decision 1
Losses 1
By knockout 1
Notable relatives Yoan Pablo Hernández, brother[4]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Yoel Romero Palacio (born April 30, 1977) is a Cuban mixed martial artist (MMA) and former World Champion and Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling. He competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and formerly competed in the now-defunct Strikeforce organization. Romero is #6 in the official UFC middleweight rankings.[5]

Wrestling career

Romero competed in both the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Olympics, representing his home nation of Cuba. He won the silver medal in the 2000 freestyle competition, losing to Adam Saitiev in the finals.[6] He finished in 4th place in 2004. While competing in freestyle wrestling, Romero has defeated 3 different Olympic gold medal winners, and 5 different world champions.[7] Among them were Americans Cael Sanderson and Les Gutches, both of whom Romero has multiple victories over.

He also represented Cuba at the senior level in the FILA Wrestling World Championships, which is held in non-Olympic years, from 1997-2005. At the 1999 World Wrestling Championships Romero became world champ by defeating the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Khadzhimurad Magomedov of Russia. He controversially missed out on becoming world champ again in 2002. After landing a 3 point throw against Adam Saitiev to take a 3-2 lead, Romero was penalized a point for passivity with 20 seconds remaining. In overtime after a scramble saw Romero end on top, it was judged Saitiev had scored in the interim.

Romero medaled in 5 total world championships, only missing out with his 5th place finish in 1997, and 6th place finish in 2003. Other notable achievements include a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games, a quadrennial competition held the year before the Olympics, as well as multiple 1st place finishes at the FILA Wrestling World Cup. Romero competed sparingly after 2005, and shortly after winning the Grand Prix of Germany in the summer of 2007, he relocated to Germany and began to pursue a career in MMA.


World Championships/Olympic Games Matches

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 34-11 Georgia (country) Revaz Mindorashvili 0-1, 1-1, 0-5 2005-09-26 2005 World Wrestling Championships Hungary Budapest, Hungary awarded silver medal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 34-10 Ukraine Taras Danko 3-1, 1-0 2005-09-26 2005 World Wrestling Championships Hungary Budapest, Hungary
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 33-10 Belarus Soslan Gattsiev 1-0, 2-0 2005-09-26 2005 World Wrestling Championships Hungary Budapest, Hungary
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 32-10 Poland Radoslaw Horbik 1-0, 2-0 2005-09-26 2005 World Wrestling Championships Hungary Budapest, Hungary
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 31-10 Malta Abraham Vasallo 4-0, 3-0 2005-09-26 2005 World Wrestling Championships Hungary Budapest, Hungary
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 30-10 Russia Sazhid Sazhidov 3-5 2004-08-26 2004 Summer Olympics Greece Athens, Greece bronze medal match
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 30-9 United States Cael Sanderson 2-3 2004-08-26 2004 Summer Olympics Greece Athens, Greece
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30-8 Greece Lazaros Loizidis 3-1 2004-08-26 2004 Summer Olympics Greece Athens, Greece
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-8 Germany Davyd Bichinashvili 3-0 2004-08-26 2004 Summer Olympics Greece Athens, Greece
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 28-8 Guam Jeffrey Cobb Tech. Fall 2004-08-26 2004 Summer Olympics Greece Athens, Greece
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 27-8 Russia Sazhid Sazhidov 0-3 2003-09-12 2003 World Wrestling Championships United States New York, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 27-7 Republic of Macedonia Mogamed Ibragimov 0-3 2003-09-12 2003 World Wrestling Championships United States New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 27-6 Switzerland Thomas Bucheli 9-0 2003-09-12 2003 World Wrestling Championships United States New York, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 26-6 Poland Marcin Jurecki 6-5 2003-09-12 2003 World Wrestling Championships United States New York, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25-6 Russia Adam Saitiev 3-4 2002-09-05 2002 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran awarded silver medal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-5 Iran Majid Khodaei 3-0 2002-09-05 2002 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24-5 Georgia (country) Revaz Mindorashvili 3-2 2002-09-05 2002 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-5 Japan Katsutoshi Senba Fall 2002-09-05 2002 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22-5 Hungary Gabor Kapuvari 4-0 2002-09-05 2002 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-5 Belarus Beibulat Musaev 3-0 2001-11-22 2001 World Wrestling Championships Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria wins bronze medal
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 20-5 Russia Khadzhimurad Magomedov 1-3 2001-11-22 2001 World Wrestling Championships Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-4 Germany Andre Backhaus 5-0 2001-11-22 2001 World Wrestling Championships Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-4 Poland Marcin Jurecki 4-1 2001-11-22 2001 World Wrestling Championships Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-4 Armenia Mahmed Aghaev 5-0 2001-11-22 2001 World Wrestling Championships Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 17-4 Russia Adam Saitiev Fall 2000-09-28 2000 Summer Olympics Australia Sydney, Australia awarded silver medal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-3 Iran Amir Reza Khadem 3-0 2000-09-28 2000 Summer Olympics Australia Sydney, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-3 Canada Justin Abdou 8-0 2000-09-28 2000 Summer Olympics Australia Sydney, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-3 Latvia Igors Samušonoks 3-0 2000-09-28 2000 Summer Olympics Australia Sydney, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-3 Kazakhstan Magomed Kurugliyev 4-0 2000-09-28 2000 Summer Olympics Australia Sydney, Australia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13-3 Russia Khadzhimurad Magomedov 4-2 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey wins world championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-3 Turkey Ali Oezen 3-2 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-3 Kazakhstan Magomed Kurugliyev 3-0 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-3 Azerbaijan Vitali Gizoev 7-0 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-3 Germany Andre Backhaus 8-4 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-3 Iran Abbas Majidi 4-0 1999-10-07 1999 World Wrestling Championships Turkey Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-3 Russia Khadzhimurad Magomedov 3-2 1998-09-07 1998 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran wins bronze medal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-3 Poland Michal Stanislawski 5-1 1998-09-07 1998 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5-3 Iran Alireza Heidari 1-2 1998-09-07 1998 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-2 Hungary Gabor Kapuvari 5-0 1998-09-07 1998 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-2 Bulgaria Plamen Paskalev 5-0 1998-09-07 1998 World Wrestling Championships Iran Tehran, Iran
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-2 Azerbaijan Mogamed Ibragimov Inj. Def. 1997-08-29 1997 World Wrestling Championships Russia Krasnojarsk, Russia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2-2 Uzbekistan Soslan Fraev 1-3 1997-08-29 1997 World Wrestling Championships Russia Krasnojarsk, Russia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 2-1 Ukraine Eldar Assanov 1-3 1997-08-29 1997 World Wrestling Championships Russia Krasnojarsk, Russia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0 Latvia Igors Samušonoks 3-1 1997-08-29 1997 World Wrestling Championships Russia Krasnojarsk, Russia
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0 Republic of Macedonia Gari Modosyan 4-0 1997-08-29 1997 World Wrestling Championships Russia Krasnojarsk, Russia


Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After defecting in 2007 to Germany,[8] Romero made his professional mixed martial arts debut in December 2009. Over the next two years, he amassed an undefeated record of 4-0 in various promotions throughout Germany and Poland.

He won his debut via TKO against Sascha Weinpolter. He then took on Polish standout Michał Fijałka in his second bout.[9] After a dominating performance, Yoel won in the third round via TKO, which was at first ruled a controversial disqualification, due to a knee on the ground thrown by Romero. In 2011, he won his next two fights via TKO in the first round.

Strikeforce

Romero signed with Strikeforce in July 2011 and made his promotional debut against Rafael Cavalcante on September 10, 2011 at Strikeforce 36.[10] He lost the fight via KO in the second round. A neck injury kept him out of action until 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Romero made his UFC and middleweight debut against Clifford Starks on April 20, 2013 at UFC on Fox 7.[11] He won the fight via KO in the first round. The win also earned him Knockout of the Night honors.[12]

Romero was expected to face Derek Brunson on August 31, 2013 at UFC 164.[13] However, Brunson suffered an injury and pulled out of the bout. Promotional newcomer Brian Houston was briefly linked as a replacement, however Houston was not medically cleared to compete at the event and the bout was cancelled.[14]

In his second UFC bout, Romero faced Ronny Markes on November 6, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 31.[15] He won the fight via knockout in the third round.

For his third fight, Romero was again set to face Derek Brunson on January 15, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 35.[16] After trailing for two rounds, Romero won the fight in the third via TKO due to punches that dropped Brunson and subsequent elbows to the body. Both fighters earned a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus award.[17]

In his fourth fight, Romero faced Brad Tavares at UFC on Fox 11.[18] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Romero faced Tim Kennedy on September 27, 2014 at UFC 178.[19] He won the fight via TKO in the third round, giving Kennedy his first stoppage loss in thirteen years. Romero was saved by the bell when he got visibly stunned and nearly finished in the final seconds of the second round. There was controversy when Romero initially failed to answer the bell for the third round and received extra time to recover.[20] The win also earned Romero his second Fight of the Night bonus award.[21]

Romero was expected to face Ronaldo Souza on February 28, 2015 at UFC 184.[22] However, Souza pulled out of the fight on January 15, 2015 due to pneumonia. The bout will be left intact and moved to a later date.[23]

The bout with Souza was rescheduled for April 18, 2015 at UFC on Fox 15, however Romero was forced out of the bout due to a ligament and meniscus tear in his knee, his replacement will be Chris Camozzi who will rematch Ronaldo Souza as their first fight ended with an arm-triangle choke submission. [24]

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–1 Tim Kennedy TKO (punches) UFC 178 September 27, 2014 3 0:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–1 Brad Tavares Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne April 19, 2014 3 5:00 Orlando, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–1 Derek Brunson TKO (punches and elbows) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou January 15, 2014 3 3:23 Duluth, Georgia, United States Fight of the Night.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–1 Ronny Markes KO (punches) UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 November 6, 2013 3 1:39 Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 Clifford Starks KO (flying knee and punches) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez April 20, 2013 1 1:32 San Jose, California, United States Middleweight debut; Knockout of the Night.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4–1 Rafael Cavalcante KO (punches and knee) Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov September 10, 2011 2 4:51 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Laszlo Eck KO (punch) Fight of the Night 2011 May 27, 2011 1 0:33 Greding, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Nikita Petrovs TKO (retirement) SFC 3: MMA Fight Night March 5, 2011 1 2:58 Giessen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Michał Fijałka TKO (retirement) IFF: The Eternal Struggle October 8, 2010 3 4:05 Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Sascha Weinpolter TKO (punches) Fight of the Night 2009 December 20, 2009 1 0:48 Nuremberg, Germany

Personal life

Romero describes himself as "a man of God" whose hero is Jesus Christ.[25][26][27] His younger brother, Yoan Pablo Hernández, is a Cruiserweight Champion in professional boxing.[28]

Yoel Romero
Medal record
Competitor for  Cuba
Men's Freestyle Wrestling
Olympic Games
Silver 2000 Sydney 85 kg
World Championships
Gold 1999 Ankara 85 kg
Silver 2002 Tehran 84 kg
Silver 2005 Budapest 84 kg
Bronze 1998 Tehran 85 kg
Bronze 2001 Krasnoyarsk 85 kg
Wrestling World Cup
Gold 1998 Stillwater -85 kg
Gold 2000 Fairfax -85 kg
Gold 2005 Tashkent -84 kg
Silver 1999 Spokane -85 kg
Silver 2004 Baku -84 kg
Bronze 1997 Stillwater -85 kg
Pan American Games
Gold 2003 Santo Domingo 84 kg
Bronze 1999 Winnipeg 85 kg
Pan American Championships
Gold 1998 Winnipeg -85 kg
Gold 2001 Santo Domingo -85 kg
Gold 2002 Maracaibo -84 kg
Gold 2004 Guatemala City -96 kg
Gold 2007 San Salvador -84 kg

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts


Freestyle Wrestling

1999 World Champion

2000 Olympic Games Silver Medalist

2x Cuban Olympic Team Member

6x World-Level Medalist

3X World Cup Champion

2003 Pan Am Games Champion

5x Pan Am Championship Champion

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Light-heavyweight prospect Yoel Romero inks new Strikeforce deal". MMAjunkie.
  2. ↑ http://m.sherdog.com/fighter/Yoel-Romero-60762
  3. ↑ "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Werdum vs. Browne". UFC.com. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ Mike Chiappetta (2011-07-27). "Former Olympian Yoel Romero signs with Strikeforce, will face Feijão in debut". MMAfighting.com. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  5. ↑ "UFC Fighter Rankings".
  6. ↑ http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ro/yoel-romero-1.html Sports References
  7. ↑ http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/1/15/5309058/ufc-fight-night-35-factgrinder-the-wrestling-career-of-yoel-romero-olympics-saitiev-cuba. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ "Die Wochen der Wahrheit – Doppelkampftag steht an" (in German). www.ringen.de. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Yoel Romero Palacio vs. Michał Fijałka". groundandpound.de. October 5, 2010. (in German)
  10. ↑ "Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. Yoel Romero slotted for September 10 Strikeforce event". mmajunkie.com. 2011-07-21.
  11. ↑ "Yoel Romero vs Clifford Starks set for UFC on FOX 7". bloodyelbow.com. January 23, 2013.
  12. ↑ Staff (2013-04-20). "UFC on FOX 7 bonuses: Brown, Mein, Romero, Thomson earn $50,000". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  13. ↑ Staff (2013-06-17). "UFC 164 Gains Derek Brunson vs. Yoel Romero". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  14. ↑ Staff (2013-08-14). "UFC 164 loses Yoel Romero vs. Brian Houston, card finalized with 12 bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  15. ↑ Jamie Penick (2013-08-23). "UFC Fight for the Troops card adds Yoel Romero vs. Ronny Markes". mmatorch.com. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  16. ↑ Staff (2013-11-26). "UFC Fight Night 35 adds Yoel Romero vs. Derek Brunson". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  17. ↑ ""UFC Fight Night 35 Bonuses: Rockhold, Miller, Romero, Brunson Earn $50K Awards", by Mike Whitman, Sherdog.com". Sherdog.
  18. ↑ UFC News (2014-02-04). "#UFCFightNight in Orlando bout update! @bambamhealy vs @GamebredFighter and @BradTavares vs @YoelRomeroMMA. Tix on sale next Friday.". UFC. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  19. ↑ Zane Simon (2014-07-08). "Tim Kennedy vs. Yoel Romero slated for UFC 178 in Las Vegas". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  20. ↑ Marc Raimondi and Damon Martin (2014-09-28). "Stoolgate: Tim Kennedy irate about controversial loss to Yoel Romero". foxsports.com. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  21. ↑ Matt Erickson (2014-09-28). "UFC 178 bonuses: McGregor, Cruz, Romero, Kennedy earn $50,000". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  22. ↑ Brian Martin (2014-11-13). "UFC 184: Jacare Souza vs. Yoel Romero added to Staples Center card". dailynews.com. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  23. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (2015-01-15). "Souza-Romero scratched from UFC 184". UFC.com.
  24. ↑ Matt Erickson (February 11, 2015). "Yoel Romero vs. 'Jacare' Souza re-booked for UFC on FOX 15 co-main event". MMAjunkie.com.
  25. ↑ "Yoel Romero Interview". Fight Geeks.
  26. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 35's Yoel Romero: By the Grace of God". The MMA Corner.
  27. ↑ "New UFC Fighter a Knockout".
  28. ↑ Trey Downey. "UFC's Yoel Romero: Ready For Next Step at Middleweight". The MMA Corner.

External links