LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] can become the oldest first-time champion in UFC history on Saturday, and enjoys the fact he serve as a motivator for others.
Romero, 42, goes for middleweight gold in the UFC 248 headliner when he challenges Israel Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the belt. Although Randy Couture was 43 when he defeated Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight title at UFC 68, he was younger than “The Soldier of God” during the first four of his five title reigns across heavyweight and light heavyweight.
Romero (13-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) intends to set a new benchmark.
“Basically I want to prove there are no limits,” Romero told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC 248 open workouts on Wednesday. “Age is pretty much just a number for me. I think you can do anything if you believe in yourself. That if you live in a disciplined lifestyle, if you live in a not so emotional life, if you live under a conviction, anything if possible.”
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UFC 248 takes place at T-Mobile Arena with a main card set to air on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
Romero said that, win or lose, he is nowhere near the end of his fighting career. He wants to competing for another decade into his 50s, because athletic competition is what drives his happiness.
“Yeah (I want to fight 10 more years),” Romero said. “Sport is life. I love my life. I love life and I love the sport, so I want to continue having life so I need to keep doing sports.”
Romero knows that eventually his journey in MMA will come to an end, but for now, he’s embracing every second.
“It will get me upset if I cannot do the sport anymore to train,” Romero said. “One day you can’t keep competing anymore, but you need to keep going for the sport. That’s different.”