49-year-old Yoel Romero breaks Alex Nicholson's jaw in 70-second finish

Yoel Romero, at 49 years old, delivered a vicious 70-second finish over Alex Nicholson at Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion, stopping the fight with a punch that broke Nicholson's jaw and forcing a submission via strikes.

Romero, known as the Soldier of God, holds a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 5 losses. 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 used leg strikes to destabilize Nicholson before landing the decisive blow. His career striking accuracy sits at 49 percent, and he averages 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting the well-rounded threat he remains even at an age well past the typical athletic peak.

Nicholson, nicknamed The Spartan, is 36 years old and carries a verified record of 7 wins and 4 losses. The American Top Team Orlando product stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and lands 4.12 significant strikes per minute, making him an active and physically imposing fighter in his own right. Despite his size advantage, he could not withstand Romero's opening sequence and was unable to continue after sustaining the jaw injury, tapping out as a result of the damage inflicted.

Why it matters

• Romero's finish demonstrates he remains a dangerous competitor well into his late 40s, extending a remarkable career arc.
• The result puts a spotlight on Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion as a destination for notable names from the sport's recent history.
• Nicholson's submission due to a broken jaw is a rare finish type that underscores the elevated injury risk in bare-knuckle formats.