MMA StatBook
Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero

“Soldier of God”

MiddleweightCuba / United States3-fight losing streak

17Wins
7Losses
0Draws

Professional record

Last 5: LLLWL

Compare with another fighter

Profile

Age
49 (born April 30, 1977)
Born in
Pinar del Río
Height
6' 0"
Weight
185 lbs.
Reach
73"
Stance
Southpaw
UFC record
9-4
Title fights
2

How the fights ended

Wins in the UFC9

  • KO/TKO 7
  • Decision 2

Losses in the UFC4

  • Decision 4

UFC career stats

Striking

Significant strikes landed per minute
3.49 top 39%
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
3.11
Striking accuracy49%Better than 61% of middleweights
Strike defense61%Better than 89% of middleweights

Grappling

Takedowns per 15 minutes
1.65 top 39%
Submission attempts per 15 minutes
0.0
Takedown accuracy33%Better than 32% of middleweights
Takedown defense81%Better than 84% of middleweights

Next fight

No confirmed fight yet. Romero last fought on March 7, 2020 (Loss vs Israel Adesanya). Romero has not fought in the UFC for more than two years.

Booked fights appear here as soon as they are announced. See the full UFC schedule.

In the record book

About Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero "Soldier of God" is a middleweight mixed martial artist, born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, on April 30, 1977. Romero stands 6' 0", has a 73" reach and fights from a southpaw stance.

Romero turned professional in 2009, debuting with Fight of the Night. A 4-1 record outside the UFC came first. Romero made a UFC debut at UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez in April 2013 and beat Clifford Starks by KO/TKO. In the UFC, Romero is 9-4 across 13 fights.

A finisher on the feet, Romero has won 7 of 9 UFC fights by knockout. By the numbers, Romero avoids strikes better than 89% of middleweights and defends takedowns better than 84% of middleweights. Notable wins include Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, all UFC title-fight winners. Romero ranks #3 in UFC history for most elbow knockouts.

Romero's most recent UFC appearance was at UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero in March 2020, where Romero lost to Israel Adesanya.

UFC fight history

  1. L

    Israel Adesanya Title

    Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00

    UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero

    Mar 7, 2020

    40Str 0TD 0KD
  2. L

    Paulo Costa

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2

    Aug 17, 2019

    125Str 1TD 1KD
  3. L

    Robert Whittaker

    Decision - Split · R5 5:00

    UFC 225: Whittaker vs. Romero 2

    Jun 9, 2018

    111Str 3TD 2KD
  4. W

    Luke Rockhold

    KO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R3 1:48

    UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold

    Feb 10, 2018

    45Str 0TD 1KD
  5. L

    Robert Whittaker Title

    Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00

    UFC 213: Romero vs. Whittaker

    Jul 8, 2017

    48Str 4TD 0KD
  6. W

    Chris Weidman

    KO/TKO · Flying Knee Head · R3 0:24

    UFC 205: Alvarez vs McGregor

    Nov 12, 2016

    18Str 2TD 1KD
  7. W

    Jacare Souza

    Decision - Split · R3 5:00

    UFC 194: Aldo vs McGregor

    Dec 12, 2015

    46Str 0TD 1KD
  8. W

    Lyoto Machida

    KO/TKO · Elbows to Head From Half Guard · R3 1:38

    UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Romero

    Jun 27, 2015

    42Str 1TD 0KD
  9. W

    Tim Kennedy

    KO/TKO · Punch to Head In Clinch · R3 0:58

    UFC 178: Johnson vs Cariaso

    Sep 27, 2014

    39Str 3TD 2KD
  10. W

    Brad Tavares

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC on FOX: Werdum vs Browne

    Apr 19, 2014

    31Str 7TD 0KD
  11. W

    Derek Brunson

    KO/TKO · Elbows to Body On Ground · R3 3:23

    UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs Philippou

    Jan 15, 2014

    60Str 0TD 0KD
  12. W

    Ronny Markes

    KO/TKO · Punch to Head In Clinch · R3 1:39

    UFC Fight Night: Fight for the Troops 3

    Nov 6, 2013

    50Str 0TD 1KD
  13. W

    Clifford Starks

    KO/TKO · Flying Knee Head · R1 1:32

    UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez

    Apr 20, 2013

    12Str 0TD 1KD

Full MMA career

Yoel Romero is 17-7 across 24 professional fights in 8 promotions, since a pro debut on December 20, 2009 (Fight of the Night). 11 of those fights were outside the UFC.

Pro wins17

  • KO/TKO 13
  • Submission 1
  • Decision 3

Pro losses7

  • KO/TKO 1
  • Decision 6
Finish rate
82% of wins
Longest win streak
8
Current streak
2 wins

Fights by promotion

PromotionRecordFirst fight
UFC9-42013
Bellator2-22021
Fight of the Night2-02009
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA1-02026
Infinite Fighting Federation1-02010
PFL1-02024
Strikeforce0-12011
Superior FC1-02011

All professional fights

ResultOpponentMethodEventDate
W Alex Nicholson TKO (submission to punches), R1 Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 10 May 1, 2026
W Thiago Santos Decision (unanimous), R3 PFL vs. Bellator Feb 24, 2024
L Vadim Nemkov Decision (unanimous), R5 Bellator 297 Jun 16, 2023
W Melvin Manhoef KO (elbows), R3 Bellator 285 Sep 23, 2022
W Alex Polizzi TKO (punches), R3 Bellator 280 May 6, 2022
L Phil Davis Decision (split), R3 Bellator 266 Sep 18, 2021
L Israel Adesanya Decision (unanimous), R5 UFC 248 Mar 7, 2020
L Paulo Costa Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC 241 Aug 17, 2019
L Robert Whittaker Decision (split), R5 UFC 225 Jun 9, 2018
W Luke Rockhold KO (punches), R3 UFC 221 Feb 10, 2018
L Robert Whittaker Decision (unanimous), R5 UFC 213 Jul 8, 2017
W Chris Weidman KO (flying knee), R3 UFC 205 Nov 12, 2016
W Ronaldo Souza Decision (split), R3 UFC 194 Dec 12, 2015
W Lyoto Machida KO (elbows), R3 UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero Jun 27, 2015
W Tim Kennedy TKO (punches), R3 UFC 178 Sep 27, 2014
W Brad Tavares Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne Apr 19, 2014
W Derek Brunson TKO (punches and elbows), R3 UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou Jan 15, 2014
W Ronny Markes KO (punches), R3 UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 Nov 6, 2013
W Clifford Starks KO (flying knee and punches), R1 UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez Apr 20, 2013
L Rafael Cavalcante KO (punches), R2 Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov Sep 10, 2011
W Laszlo Eck KO (punch), R1 Fight of the Night 2011 May 27, 2011
W Ņikita Petrovs TKO (retirement), R1 Superior FC 4 Mar 5, 2011
W Michał Fijałka TKO (retirement), R3 Infinite Fighting Federation: The Eternal Struggle Oct 8, 2010
W Sascha Weinpolter TKO (punches), R1 Fight of the Night 2009 Dec 20, 2009

Full professional record from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Quick answers

What is Yoel Romero's record?

Yoel Romero's professional MMA record is 17 wins, 7 losses and 0 draws.

How old is Yoel Romero?

Yoel Romero is 49 years old, born on April 30, 1977.

How tall is Yoel Romero and what is their reach?

Yoel Romero stands 6' 0" with a 73" reach.

Who did Yoel Romero fight last?

Yoel Romero lost to Israel Adesanya by Decision - Unanimous at UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero on Mar 7, 2020.

Photo: Эркек, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.