Yoel Romero is a glitch in the simulation. Most people his age are worrying about their cholesterol or wondering if they should start playing pickleball. Not Yoel. He’s out here at 48 years old, looking like he was sculpted out of Cuban granite, still putting people in the hospital.
If you're looking for the Yoel Romero last fight, things have actually gotten a bit weird lately. He isn't just a cage fighter anymore. He’s evolved into this multi-sport combat nomad.
The Bare Knuckle Brutality (September 2025)
Honestly, his most recent high-profile appearance was a total destruction. On September 12, 2025, Romero made his debut for BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) at BKFC 80. He fought a guy named Theo Doukas. It was, to put it lightly, a massacre.
Romero did that thing he always does. He stood there. He stared. He looked like a statue for the first three minutes. Then, in the second round, he turned into the "Soldier of God" we all know. He dropped Doukas three times. The last one was a nasty right hand that basically ended the night.
It’s kind of terrifying that a 48-year-old man has that much twitch fiber left. He’s 1-0 in bare knuckle now, and honestly, who wants to sign up to get hit by those hands without gloves?
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What Happened in His Last MMA Fight?
If you're a purist and only care about the cage, you've gotta look back to February 2024. This was the big PFL vs. Bellator crossover event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Yoel fought Thiago "Marreta" Santos. On paper, this was a dream fight for 2018. In 2024? It was a bit of a chess match. Or a staring contest, depending on how much coffee you’d had.
- The Result: Romero won via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
- The Strategy: He basically chewed up Santos’ legs. Santos has had those famously "exploded" knees since his fight with Jon Jones, and Yoel just kept kicking them.
- The Vibe: It wasn't the flying knee highlight reel we wanted, but it showed that Yoel is still smarter than most of the young bucks.
He stayed disciplined. He didn't gas out. He just methodically picked apart a very dangerous striker.
The 2026 Wrestling Match (The Latest Update)
Now, here is where it gets super recent and a little messy. Just a few days ago, on January 10, 2026, Yoel was supposed to have a massive freestyle wrestling match against UFC phenom Bo Nickal at RAF 5.
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Everyone was hyped. An Olympic silver medalist vs. a 3-time NCAA D1 champ. But the "Soldier of God" missed weight.
Because of the weight miss, the Nickal fight was scrapped. Instead, Yoel ended up wrestling a guy named Stephen Buchanan in a catchweight bout. It didn't go well for the legend. Buchanan is young, fast, and technically sound. He shut Yoel down completely and won 10-0 via technical fall.
It was a reminder that while Yoel is a freak of nature, time eventually catches up to everyone—especially in a sport as grueling as elite wrestling.
Is Yoel Romero Retired?
Not even close.
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After the BKFC win in 2025, Romero made it clear he wants to keep going. He’s talked about fighting until he’s 50. Most experts, like those over at MMA Junkie or Sherdog, think he’ll probably stick to "super-fights" or specialized rulesets like bare knuckle or "Dirty Boxing" (where he also has a couple of wins recently).
The reality is that Romero is a brand. People pay to see if the old man can still explode and take someone’s head off.
Why He’s Still Winning
- Explosivity: He still has better 5-second bursts than 90% of the light heavyweight division.
- Durability: His neck is basically a pillar of muscle. He doesn't get wobbled easily.
- Fight IQ: He knows he can't go 100% for 15 minutes, so he idles at 10% and spikes to 100% when he sees an opening.
What’s Next for the Soldier of God?
If you're following his career, expect more BKFC. Bare knuckle suits him because the rounds are shorter (2 minutes), which masks his cardio issues. Plus, he doesn't have to worry about being taken down and ground-and-pounded.
Keep an eye on the BKFC heavyweight rankings. He’s already making waves there. Even if he isn't fighting for a UFC belt anymore, Yoel Romero is still one of the most dangerous humans on the planet.
If you want to track his next move, follow his Instagram—he usually posts his "I see you soon" videos there before a big fight announcement. Just don't expect him to slow down anytime soon. He’s built different. Literally.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check the official BKFC schedule for the spring 2026 tour. There are rumors of Romero headlining a card in Miami, which would basically be a home game for him. Also, keep tabs on his weight; if he tries to return to 185 lbs at his age, it’s a red flag. He belongs at 205 lbs or heavyweight now.