Yoel Romero Biography, Yoel Romero Palacio born April 30, 1977 is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler, currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero previously fought in the Middleweight division for the UFC, where he challenged for the UFC Middleweight Championship. As a freestyle wrestler, Romero competed at the 85 kg weight class, earning numerous accolades throughout his career. He was the 1999 World Champion, a five-time medalist at the World Championships, a 2000 Olympic Silver medalist, and a three-time World Cup winner, with six total medals in the competition. Additionally, he claimed the gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games and was a five-time Pan American Champion.
Yoel Romero Biography 2025
Yoel Romero is making his return to the fight scene this weekend. The former UFC title challenger will be competing this Saturday in Miami, Florida, at the Dirty Boxing Championship, a striking-focused promotion owned by Mike Perry. Romero’s comeback has certainly caught attention, with the promotion officially announcing the fight just hours before the event on Friday evening. At 47 years old, Romero will face former Power Slap athlete Duane Crespo in a heavyweight showdown. MMA Junkie has confirmed the details of this intriguing matchup with the Dirty Boxing Championship.
Yoel Romero Biography 2025 Details
| Born | Yoel Romero Palacio April 30, 1977 Pinar del Río, Cuba |
|---|---|
| Other names | Soldier of God |
| Residence | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | Cuban American |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Light heavyweight (2009–2011, 2021–present) Middleweight (2013–2020) |
| Reach | 73 in (185 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling |
| Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S. |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Wrestling | Olympic Freestyle Wrestling |
| Years active | 2009–present (MMA) 1997–2005, 2007 (freestyle wrestling) |
| Category | WWE News |
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Yoel Romero Latest News
The creators of Karate Combat, alongside other investors, are backing Mike Perry’s new fight promotion, the Dirty Boxing Championship. This event will feature a notable matchup between former Olympian and UFC fighter Yoel Romero and Power Slap competitor Duane Crespo. Similar to Karate Combat, Dirty Boxing Championship will have its own distinct set of rules. It allows limited ground and pound and elbows, while maintaining the traditional aspects of boxing—though the fighters will wear 5oz gloves instead of the usual 10oz.
The inaugural event, which is set to be a unique experience, will be held behind closed doors with only a select number of invited fans in attendance. There will be no online stream available, either for free or for purchase. Perry’s unconventional approach is to create buzz by keeping the event under wraps, capitalizing on the idea that people desire what they can’t have. Despite the occasional slow pacing of his fights, Yoel Romero’s explosive moments and larger-than-life presence have made him a memorable figure in combat sports. At 47 years old, the former Olympic silver medalist in wrestling remains an imposing athlete, with his power and physique still going strong.
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About Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero Palacio is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA.
- Born: 30 April 1977 (age 47 years), Pinar del Río, Cuba
- Weight: 93 kg
- Martial arts: Mixed martial arts, Freestyle wrestling
- Height: 1.78 m
- Siblings: Yoan Pablo Hernández
- Division: Light heavyweight; (2009–2011, 2021–present); Middleweight; (2013–2020)
- Other names: Soldier of God
Wrestling Career
Romero began his wrestling career in the 1990s, eventually representing Cuba in the FILA Wrestling World Championships from 1997 to 2005. In 1999, he became a world champion by defeating Khadzhimurad Magomedov, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist from Russia. However, he narrowly missed another world title in 2002. Romero was penalized for passivity in a match against Adam Saitiev, ultimately losing in overtime after a controversial scramble.
Romero competed in both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, earning a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics after losing to Adam Saitiev in the finals. He finished in fourth place in 2004. Throughout his wrestling career, Romero defeated three Olympic gold medalists and five world champions, including multiple victories over American wrestlers Cael Sanderson and Les Gutches.
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Yoel Romero Facts & Wiki
| Birth Date | 30-4-1977 |
| Heritage/origin | Cuban |
| Ethnicity | African |
| Religion – believes in God? | Christian |
| Residence | He lives together in a house in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. |
Yoel Romero Net Worth, Salary
Yoel Romero has earned a net worth of $10 million in mixed martial arts and wrestling industry. He is currently competing in Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. As a freestyle wrestler, Yoel was a five-time medalist at the World Championships including the Olympic Silver medal in year 2000.
| Estimated Net Worth | 10 million Dollar |
| Yearly Salary | N/A |
| Product Endorsements | Dioxyme |
| Colleagues | Paulo Costa, Phil Davis & Robert Whittaker |
| Management | Malki Kawa |
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Yoel Romero: Wife, Dating, Family & Friends
| Relationship status | Married |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Current Wife of Yoel Romero | Unknown |
| Ex-girlfriends or ex-wives | |
| Has any kids? | Yes, father of: Daughter & daughter |
Family
He might have befriended Paulo Costa, Phil Davis & Robert Whittaker, but what about family? Names of father, mother, kids, brothers & sisters:
- Yoan Pablo Hernández (Brother)
Friends
- Jorge Masvidal
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Height, Weight, Body Measurements, Tattoos, Skin, Hair & Eye Color
| Hair color | Bald |
| Hairstyle | simple |
| Beard or Mustache | Beard, Circle Beard, |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Height | 183 cm |
| Weight | 93 kilo |
| Feet size | 9 |
| Does Yoel Romero smoke? | No, never |
| Does Yoel Romero have a tattoo? | Yes |
| Fitness, workout and diet | As a current active professional mixed martial artist, Yoel Romero follows a strict training and diet plan. He does a high volume of heavyweight in gym as well as eating clean and healthy. |