Tag: Yoel Romero

Bellator 285 weigh-ins results: Benson Henderson, Yoel Romero, and the rest hit their marks

Twenty-six fighters hit the scale in Dublin including a former UFC lightweight champion and fan favorite “The Soldier of God.”

Bellator is back in Dublin with a card featuring a handful of notable names including a former UFC lightweight champion and fan favorite “The Soldier of God.”

[autotag]Benson Henderson[/autotag] headlines Bellator 285 against [autotag]Peter Queally[/autotag], right after [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] battles [autotag]Melvin Manhoef[/autotag] in the co-main event. Thursday, fighters hit the scales at the host hotel ahead of Friday’s event at 3Arena. The event’s main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

The official weigh-ins saw all 26 fighters make weight. One fighter, [autotag]Dayana Silva[/autotag], needed a to weigh in twice for her main card bout vs. [autotag]Leah McCourt[/autotag]. Silva made successfully weight on her second attempt. Outside of that sliver of drama, weigh-ins ran smooth and finished 68 minutes into the two-hour window.

Here are the complete results from the official Bellator 285 weigh-ins:

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 4 p.m. ET)

  • Benson Henderson (155.4) vs. Peter Queally (154.2)
  • Melvin Manhoef (205.7) vs. Yoel Romero (205.9)
  • Leah McCourt (146) vs. Dayana Silva (146)
  • Mads Burnell (145.8) vs. Pedro Carvalho (146)
  • Ciaran Clarke (149.2) vs. Rafael Hudson (149.8) – 150-pound contract weight

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 1 p.m. ET)

  • Brett Johns (135.7) vs. Jordan Winski (135)
  • Arivaldo Lima da Silva (135.9) vs. Brian Moore (135.7)
  • Karl Albrektsson (205.2) vs. Karl Moore (205.8)
  • Georgi Karakhanyan (156) vs. Kane Mousah (155.7)
  • Darragh Kelly (155.2) vs. Kye Stevens (155.2)
  • Alex Bodnar (145.6) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (146)
  • Asael Adjoudj (146) vs. Jordan Barton (146)
  • Luca Poclit (169.7) vs. Dante Schiro (169.9)

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Yoel Romero wants to fight Jake Paul in boxing: ‘He needs to get humbled’

Yoel Romero would love to humble Jake Paul.

[autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] hopes to cross paths with Jake Paul.

The multiple-time UFC title challenger and current Bellator contender is down to jump over to the boxing world and fight YouTube star and undefeated boxer Jake Paul. Romero (14-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), who returns to action this Friday at Bellator 285 against veteran Melvin Manhoef, thinks Paul needs a reality check.

“That same kid, Jake Paul, yes, yes, him,” Romero told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked who he’d like to box. “He needs to get humbled, needs to be let known that a true athlete he can’t beat. It doesn’t matter how hard he trains. He can’t beat one.”

Paul is currently scheduled for his sixth professional boxing bout. He’s set to take on 47-year-old former UFC champion Anderson Silva in an eight-round contest on Oct. 29 in Phoenix.

Paul is no stranger to facing MMA greats in the boxing ring. He’s coming off two consecutive wins over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, and prior to that, he had knocked out former ONE and Bellator champion Ben Askren.

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Regardless of Paul, Romero hopes to compete in the sweet science before it’s all said and done.

Romero, a multiple-time world champion in wrestling and an Olympic silver medalist representing Cuba, came from a boxing family. His father tried to get him to go down the boxing route, but he ended up going with wrestling instead.

“I’d like to box and fight in boxing,” Romero said. “I’d like to do one or two fights in boxing. Seeing myself in a boxing ring would be a great dream of mine.

“Like I said in a previous interview, it’d be hitting my dad with a hammer on the head. All my family did boxing, and my dad would’ve loved it. But I’m here and with the possibility of making it a reality, and it would be another of my goals, doing some boxing fights.

“My dad, my cousins, my brother, yeah. It’s actually the family with the most medals in boxing in Cuba.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 285.

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These 12 UFC veterans are in MMA and boxing action Sept. 23-25

The UFC is idle this week, but there are plenty of veterans of the promotion in action across the globe.

The UFC is idle this week before another event at UFC Apex in Las Vegas Paris for UFC Fight Night 211.

However, there are a number of MMA and boxing events taking place that feature many familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

From one of the greatest female combatants of all time taking on a new challenge to former UFC champions and title challengers, there are 12 veterans of the global leader competing this weekend from Sept. 23-25.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Yoel Romero plans to beat Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 285, then drop to middleweight

Yoel Romero is not done with middleweight.

[autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] is not done with the middleweight division.

The former UFC title contender and now Bellator standout has plans on returning to the division where he made a name for himself in the world of MMA.

Romero (14-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is currently scheduled to take on Melvin Manhoef (32-15-1 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) in a light heavyweight contest at Bellator 285 on Sept. 23 in Dublin. Romero enters the fight as a hefty favorite.

The 45-year-old doesn’t pay any mind to the odds, though, and said he’s just focused on delivering a successful performance.

“For me, it’s a pleasure to be fighting in Dublin,” Romero told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “It’s one of those places where people would love to put on a show. As far as Melvin, I don’t think about whether I’m going to beat him easily or not. No. What I do think about is doing my job, putting in play what we’ve been practicing in camp, and getting my hand raised in victory.”

The bout against Manhoef marks Romero’s third appearance under the Bellator banner. So far, he’s only competed at 205 pounds. The Cuban fighter believes that will change after this outing.

“My goals are still the same, my ambitions are still the same – become champion in both divisions,” Romero said. “I’m fighting at 205 in this fight and after this fight, lose some weight and go down to 185 pounds. Resists a little more, not eat as much and go down to my old division, 185 pounds.”

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What Yoel Romero really wants is a middleweight title shot: ‘I’m gonna take the belt in Bellator at 185’

Yoel Romero is intent on making up for his UFC title-fight shortcomings after putting on a masterclass at Bellator 280.

[autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] will gladly take the next fight Bellator has lined up for him, even if it’s not what he truly wants.

Romero (14-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped a four-fight losing streak and returned to the win column for the first time in four years Friday at Bellator 280, putting on a masterclass at the expense of Alex Polizzi. For 14 minutes and 59 seconds, Romero was methodical in how he brutalized Polizzi, dropping him four times before winning by TKO at the 4:59 mark of the third round.

Afterward, Bellator announced a re-booked fight between Romero and his original Bellator 280 opponent, Melvin Manhoef, will take place at Bellator Dublin on Sept. 23, and the two men squared off inside the cage at Accor Arena in Paris.

Romero, 45, is fine with fighting Manhoef next. But as he stated prior to Bellator 280, his sights are set on winning the middleweight title.

“Any victory to me is important. They’re all equally important,” Romero told reporters in Spanish through an interpreter. “I’m going to rest about a week. I have no injuries. As you saw, they brought Melvin Manhoef in the cage, but I see further than that. I feel as if I’m gonna do another fight at 185 and continue on the route and to get in line for that belt.”

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If all goes according to plan, Romero would get by Manhoef in September an then fight the winner of the upcoming Bellator 282 headliner between middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi and Johnny Eblen. Ideally, a title shot would happen before the end of the year.

“Yes, of course. I live a very healthy life,” Romero said. “If everything goes well against Manhoef, then I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to contend for the title belt at 185 next fight.”

Romero’s win over Polizzi was at light heavyweight. The Manhoef fight also will take place at 205 pounds. But Romero is intent on capturing gold at 185 pounds after he couldn’t achieve that in the UFC.

Romero first lost an interim title fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 213. In his second interim title fight booking, Romero knocked out Luke Rockhold – but he missed weight, which made him ineligible to win the title. Romero missed weight again ahead of an undisputed title shot rematch with Whittaker, which he also lost. Romero’s final UFC bout was a five-round dud against current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Given those shortcomings, it’s easy to see why Romero is fixated on winning middleweight gold in Bellator.

“I have spent almost my entire career at 185,” Romero said. “I didn’t get the belt in the UFC, but I am the best in the world. I’m here now in Bellator, and I’m gonna take the belt in Bellator at 185.”

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Yoel Romero def. Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280: Best photos

Check out these photos highlighting Yoel Romero’s TKO win over Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280.

Check out these photos highlighting Yoel Romero’s TKO win over Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280 from Accor Arena in Paris. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan, Bellator MMA)

Bellator 280 results: Yoel Romero toys with Alex Polizzi until buzzer-beating TKO win

Yoel Romero had his way with Alex Polizzi in the Bellator 280 co-headliner.

Right after the bell rang to close the second round of their light heavyweight bout, [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] tapped [autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] softly on the back of the head, as if to send the message that he’s doing fine – but also let him down gently.

Nothing from that point on was gentle, though.

Romero continued to stalk Polizzi and outclass him for almost 15 minutes before blasting him a few more times, en route to a TKO win at the 4:59 mark of the third round of the Bellator 280 co-main event.

Romero (14-6 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) had more than one moment when it seemed he could finish the fight if he wanted, as he dropped Polizzi (10-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) with hard left hands a total of four times. But on each occasion, he stopped and gestured to the crowd at Accor Arena in Paris instead of rushing. It wasn’t until the closing seconds of the final frame that Romero pounced on a bloodied Polizzi after dropping him.

Why?

“I wanted to deliver a message. And I think I did,” Romero said afterward.

With the win, Romero snapped a four-fight losing streak and won for the first time since Feb. 11, 2018 when he knocked out Luke Rockhold at UFC 221.

After the win, Bellator announced a re-booking between Romero and Melvin Manhoef, whom he was supposed to face Friday, at Bellator Dublin on Sept. 23.

Updated Bellator 280 results include:

  • Yoel Romero def. Alex Polizzi via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:59
  • Davy Gallon def. Benjamin Brander via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:18
  • Lorenz Larkin def. Kyle Stewart via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:44
  • Gregory Babene def. Mike Shipman via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:11
  • Piotr Niedzielski def. Pedro Carvalho via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Thibault Gouti def. Lewis Long via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Jordan Barton def. Fabacary Diatta via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Soren Bak def. Charlie Leary via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Yves Landu def. Gavin Hughes via TKO (body kick) – Round 1, 3:01
  • Lucie Bertaud def. Katarzyna Sadura via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Youcef Ouabbas def. Matthieu Letho via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:17
  • Bourama Camara def. Victor Verchere via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:06

Photos: Bellator 280 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and their faceoffs before Bellator 280 in Paris.

Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and their faceoffs before Bellator 280 in Paris. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan, Bellator MMA)

 

Yoel Romero would love to fight Gegard Mousasi – but only if it’s for Bellator middleweight title

“At this moment, at 205, it doesn’t interest me very much. I would love to face him at 185.”

[autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] likes the idea of fighting Bellator middleweight champion [autotag]Gegard Mousasi[/autotag] in Mousasi’s weight class.

Romero (13-6 MMA, 0-1 BMMA), who moved up to light heavyweight when he signed with Bellator, has reciprocated Mousasi’s interest in a fight but is more concerned with becoming champion.

Both Mousasi (49-7-2 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) and Bellator president Scott Coker expressed interest in that fight, and Romero is happy to oblige.

“Mousasi is a great fight,” Romero said through an interpreter at a virtual Bellator 280 news conference Wednesday. “Every MMA fan wants to see us fight due to the trajectory in our careers. At this moment, at 205, it doesn’t interest me very much. I would love to face him at 185.”

Romero fell short multiple times in his quest of winning UFC gold, which is why he would want a fight with Mousasi to be for the title.

“It has nothing to do with anything personal against Mousasi. It has everything to do with what he has,” Romero said. “If he jumps to 205, he’s not gonna have what I desire, so it’s in the interest of all the fans and myself. So I believe the fight would be better for 185.”

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Romero will look to notch his first promotional win when he faces Alex Polizzi (10-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) in Friday’s Bellator 280 co-main event at Accor Arena in Paris.

He aims to rebound from his debut loss to Phil Davis last September at Bellator 266, where he voiced frustration because he thought the fight was a five-round main event, not three.

“The fight with Phil Davis left a bad taste in my mouth,” Romero said. “Even though I was well prepared for that fight, I wasn’t able to show it due to the confusion of the rounds of the fight. But this is not the case.”

He continued, “Because when you know you could have given more than what you gave due to the confusion of strategy, that just leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but now we know what it is, and it is what it is, and we’re ready.”

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Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past two weeks (April 18-May 1)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past two weeks.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie from April 18-May 1.