Yoel Romero
Active 2013–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 88.0
Scouting report
Bringing an Olympic silver medal in freestyle wrestling into MMA, Yoel "Soldier of God" Romero fought as an athletically explosive force in the middleweight division. Born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, Romero competed in title wars while delivering flying-knee finishes over Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, his athletic profile captured by a 95 Strength rating, 94 Wrestling, and 89 Durability, contributing to an 88 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Romero tore through the division between 2014 and 2015, stopping Derek Brunson in Duluth, outpointing Brad Tavares, stopping Tim Kennedy in Las Vegas and knocking out former champion Lyoto Machida with elbows in Hollywood, Florida, before outpointing Ronaldo Souza at UFC 194. His Olympic freestyle wrestling, flying knees, and power are reflected in an 84 Boxing and 94 Wrestling.
At UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden in November 2016, Romero scored a third-round flying-knee knockout of former champion Chris Weidman, before losing a five-round interim title fight to Robert Whittaker at UFC 213 in Las Vegas. His explosiveness, ankle picks, and finishing power justify his 85 Boxing and 94 Wrestling.
Romero knocked out Luke Rockhold with a third-round combination at UFC 221 in Perth, then engaged Robert Whittaker in a UFC 225 rematch in Chicago, losing a split decision, followed by a three-round decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 241 in Anaheim. His durability and one-punch knockout threat anchor his 86 Boxing and 94 Wrestling.
In March 2020 at UFC 248 in Las Vegas, Romero challenged Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship, losing a five-round decision before departing for Bellator MMA. His counter-striking power, Olympic wrestling base, physical strength, and durable frame are captured in an 85 Boxing and 92 Wrestling rating.
Yoel Romero, the Cuban wrestler built like a statue
Yoel Romero won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling for Cuba at the 2000 Olympics, and he brought that background into MMA well after most fighters have started to fade. He is explosive, physically imposing and famous for sudden strikes such as his flying knee. Draft him if you want raw athleticism.
Romero by attribute
Boxing. Powerful but loose. He throws with big, explosive intent.
Kickboxing. The flying knee and the sudden kick are hard to see coming.
Wrestling. Elite. His Olympic base means takedowns and defense are both strong.
BJJ. Modest. He prefers to strike and wrestle rather than hunt submissions.
Strength. The peak of his card. He is unusually strong and explosive for 185 lbs.
Durability. Very good. He kept coming after taking hard shots.
Cardio. The weak spot. He fights in bursts and can slow down in later rounds, as seen in his fights with Robert Whittaker.
Fight IQ. Good, with a sense of timing, but he sometimes waits too long between bursts.
Strength you can feel in every exchange
Romero's physical gifts make a difference in the clinch and in a scramble. He can drag opponents down or lift them, and his punches carry the same explosive power. Take him for a rare physical edge at middleweight.
He pays for his bursts: Cardio
His cardio is the second lowest of his ratings, ahead of only BJJ. He waits, then explodes, and rest periods in the middle of rounds can cost him points. A patient opponent who stays out of range can turn that against him.
Keep exploring
Closest middleweight profiles to Yoel Romero, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Paulo Costabest strength 93 · weakest bjj 78
- Jared Cannonierbest strength 91 · weakest bjj 74
- Dricus du Plessisbest strength 91 · weakest bjj 85
- Kelvin Gastelumbest boxing 89 · weakest bjj 78
- Middleweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Yoel Romero's strongest attribute, Strength.
Draft Yoel Romero into your build
Yoel Romero enters the pool on any spin landing on middleweight between 2014 and 2022. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Yoel Romero is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Yoel Romero's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.