Yoel Romero

Background and Early Life

Yoel Romero Palacio was born on April 30, 1977, in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He comes from a family with a strong background in combat sports. His younger brother, Yoan Pablo Hernández, is a notable professional boxer who held the IBF Cruiserweight title. Romero initially gained prominence as a freestyle wrestler before transitioning to MMA.

Transition to Mixed Martial Arts and UFC Debut

Romero made his UFC debut in April 2013 with an impressive first-round knockout victory over Clifford Starks. He continued his momentum with another knockout win against Ronny Markes in December 2013. In 2014, Romero fought three times, securing wins over Derek Brunson, Brad Tavares, and Tim Kennedy—all by stoppage, showcasing his striking power and explosive athleticism.

Prominent Fights and UFC Success

In 2015, Romero maintained his rise in the middleweight division with victories over Lyoto Machida and Ronaldo "Jacaré" Souza. He continued his winning streak into 2016 with a dramatic flying knee knockout against former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman. At this point, Romero had achieved a remarkable nine-fight winning streak in the UFC.

However, in July 2017, Romero experienced his first UFC loss in a competitive five-round decision against Robert Whittaker for the interim middleweight title. In February 2018, Romero rebounded with a knockout win over Luke Rockhold, though he missed weight for the bout, rendering him ineligible for the interim title. A rematch with Whittaker followed in June, resulting in a controversial split decision loss after a highly competitive fight.