Forty-nine-year-old Yoel Romero knocked out Alex Nicholson in Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion with a devastating 70-second finish. Romero attacked with leg kicks, secured a takedown, and then delivered a brutal punch to the jaw that broke it, prompting Nicholson to tap in submission. Nicholson, 35 years old, has a career MMA record of 22-17 according to varying reports. The knockout highlighted Romero's continued power and finishing ability despite his age.
Yoel Romero added another highlight-reel finish to his career on May 2, 2026, stopping Alex Nicholson in just 70 seconds inside Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion with a punch that reportedly broke Nicholson's jaw and forced him to tap.
Romero, known as the Soldier of God, is 49 years old and carries a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 5 losses. The Cuban-born fighter, now competing out of American Top Team, stands six feet tall with a 73-inch reach and fights out of a southpaw stance. His UFC-era numbers reflect a relentless finisher: he lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at a 49 percent accuracy rate and averages 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes — a blend of power and wrestling that was on full display in this finish. He attacked Nicholson's legs to open the fight, shot for a takedown, and then landed the single jaw-breaking punch that ended it.
Nicholson, nicknamed The Spartan, is a 36-year-old American fighter out of American Top Team Orlando with a verified MMA record of 7 wins and 4 losses. Standing six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 4.12 significant strikes per minute at a 43 percent clip. Despite the reach and striking volume advantages, he had no answer for Romero's combination of kicks, grappling, and raw punching power on the night.
Why it matters
- Romero at 49 years old continues to demonstrate elite finishing power well past the typical competitive prime of an MMA fighter
- The result raises the profile of Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA venture, putting a recognizable former UFC title contender in the winner's column
- The style matchup favored Romero's wrestling-based approach against a striker in Nicholson who averaged zero takedowns per 15 minutes in his career
