Biography
Yoel Romero Palacio is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a challenger for the UFC Middleweight Championship, in Bellator MMA where he was a challenger for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship, and in Strikeforce. Romero competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he was formerly interim RAF Light Heavyweight Champion. As a freestyle wrestler, Romero previously competed at 85 kilograms, where he was the 1999 World Champion (five-time medalist at the World Championships), the 2000 Olympic Silver medalist, a three-time World Cup winner (six-time medalist), the 2003 Pan American Games Gold medalist (bronze medalist in 1999) and a five-time Pan American Champion.
UFC Stats
Official · ufc.com3.44
/ min
Sig. strikes landed
3.05
/ min
Sig. strikes absorbed
1.57
/ 15 min
Takedowns
0
avg
Submissions
0.75
avg
Knockdowns
How He Wins
Finish Rate
wins by finish
Recent Form
Mixed Martial Arts40 Bouts
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win |  Alex NicholsonH2H | TKO (submission to punches) | R1 | Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 10 | May 1, 2026 |
| Loss |  Vagab VagabovH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | IBA Bare Knuckle 4 | Mar 28, 2026 |
| Win | Theo Doukaus | TKO | R2 | BKFC 80 | Sep 12, 2025 |
| Win | Ras HyltonH2H | TKO (punches) | R3 | Dirty Boxing: DBX1 | Mar 22, 2025 |
| Win | Duane CrespoH2H | KO (punches) | R1 | Dirty Boxing: Premier Event | Nov 23, 2024 |
| Win |  Thiago SantosH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | PFL vs. Bellator | Feb 24, 2024 |
| Loss | Vadim NemkovH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | Bellator 297 | Jun 16, 2023 |
| Win |  Melvin ManhoefH2H | KO (elbows) | R3 | Bellator 285 | Sep 23, 2022 |
| Win | Alex PolizziH2H | TKO (punches) | R3 | Bellator 280 | May 6, 2022 |
| Loss | Phil DavisH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | Bellator 266 | Sep 18, 2021 |
| Loss |  Israel AdesanyaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | UFC 248 | Mar 7, 2020 |
| Loss | Paulo CostaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 241 | Aug 17, 2019 |
| Loss |  Robert WhittakerH2H | Decision (split) | R5 | UFC 225 | Jun 9, 2018 |
| Win | Luke RockholdH2H | KO (punches) | R3 | UFC 221 | Feb 11, 2018 |
| Loss | Robert WhittakerH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | UFC 213 | Jul 8, 2017 |
| Win | Chris WeidmanH2H | KO (flying knee) | R3 | UFC 205 | Nov 12, 2016 |
| Win | Ronaldo SouzaH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC 194 | Dec 12, 2015 |
| Win | Lyoto MachidaH2H | KO (elbows) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero | Jun 27, 2015 |
| Win | Tim KennedyH2H | TKO (punches) | R3 | UFC 178 | Sep 27, 2014 |
| Win | Brad TavaresH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne | Apr 19, 2014 |
| Win | Derek BrunsonH2H | TKO (punches and elbows) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | Jan 15, 2014 |
| Win | Ronny MarkesH2H | KO (punches) | R3 | UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 | Nov 6, 2013 |
| Win | Clifford StarksH2H | KO (flying knee and punches) | R1 | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez | Apr 20, 2013 |
| Loss | Rafael CavalcanteH2H | KO (punches) | R2 | Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov | Sep 10, 2011 |
| Win |  Laszlo EckH2H | KO (punch) | R1 | Fight of the Night 2011 | May 27, 2011 |
| Win |  Ņikita PetrovsH2H | TKO (retirement) | R1 | Superior FC 4 | Mar 5, 2011 |
| Win |  Michał FijałkaH2H | TKO (retirement) | R3 | Infinite Fighting Federation: The Eternal Struggle | Oct 8, 2010 |
| Win |  Sascha WeinpolterH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | Fight of the Night 2009 | Dec 20, 2009 |
| Loss | Revaz Mindorashvili | 0–1, 1–1, 0–5 | Budapest, Hungary | September 26 - October 2, 2005 | 2005 |
| Loss | Sazhid Sazhidov | 3–5 | Athens, Greece | August 27–28, 2004 | 2004 |
| Loss | Sazhid Sazhidov | 0–3 | New York, New York | September 12–14, 2003 | 2003 |
| Loss | Adam Saitiev | 3–4 | Tehran, Iran | September 5–6, 2002 | 2002 |
| Win | Beibulat Musaev | 3–0 | Sofia, Bulgaria | November 23–25, 2001 | 2001 |
| Loss | Adam Saitiev | Fall | Sydney, Australia | September 29 - October 1, 2000 | 2000 |
| Win | Khadzhimurad MagomedovH2H | 4–2 | Ankara, Turkey | October 8–10, 1999 | 1999 |
| Win | Khadzhimurad MagomedovH2H | 3–2 | Tehran, Iran | September 9–11, 1998 | 1998 |
| Loss | Soslan Fraev | 1–3 | Krasnojarsk, Russia | August 29–31, 1997 | 1997 |
| Loss | Stephen Buchanan | Tech. Fall 0–10 | Sunrise, Florida | January 10, 2026 | — |
| Win | Pat DowneyH2H | Tech. Fall 12–0 | Fishers, Indiana | December 20, 2025 | — |
| Win | nc= | ko-wins=2 | sub-losses= | ko-losses=0 | — |
Related Fighters
Data sourced from public records for archival/research purposes.