Yoel Romero knocks out Alex Nicholson at Gamebred bare-knuckle event

Yoel Romero added another highlight-reel finish to his career on May 2, 2026, knocking out Alex Nicholson in just 70 seconds at a Gamebred bare-knuckle MMA event promoted by former UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal.

Romero, nicknamed "Soldier of God," is 49 years old and carries a verified MMA record of 13-5. The Cuban-born fighter, now competing out of American Top Team, has long been regarded as one of the most physically imposing athletes in combat sports. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the southpaw is known for explosive power and a wrestling-heavy base, reflected in a career takedown rate of 1.57 per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 49 percent. True to form on Friday night, he used leg strikes to set up the finish before landing a punch to the jaw that broke it and prompted Nicholson to tap.

Alex Nicholson, known as "The Spartan," is 36 years old and fights out of American Top Team Orlando. He carries a verified record of 7-4 and brings considerable physical tools to the bare-knuckle format — a six-foot-four frame, a 77-inch reach, and a striking output of 4.12 significant strikes per minute in his UFC career. He fights from an orthodox stance and has shown submission awareness with 0.5 attempts per 15 minutes, though those attributes had little opportunity to factor into a bout that was over inside two minutes.

Why it matters

• Romero, at 49, demonstrated he remains a dangerous finisher in alternative combat sports formats
• The result keeps Gamebred Fighting Championship in the spotlight as bare-knuckle MMA continues to attract recognizable names
• A broken jaw suffered by Nicholson raises questions about his near-term availability and health going forward
• The size advantage of Nicholson — six-foot-four versus six feet, with a four-inch reach edge — was completely neutralized by Romero's early aggression