Yoel Romero scored a knockout victory over Alex Nicholson at Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred bareknuckle MMA promotion. The 49-year-old Romero secured the finish in dominant fashion. The bout took place on the Gamebred card, which features MMA competition fought without gloves. Romero continues competing at a high level despite his age.
Yoel Romero added another highlight-reel finish to his career on May 2, 2026, knocking out Alex Nicholson at Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred bareknuckle MMA promotion, a competition format that strips away the gloves entirely.
Romero, nicknamed "Soldier of God," is 49 years old and shows little sign of slowing down. The southpaw trains out of American Top Team and carries a professional record of 13 wins and 5 losses. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, he has built his reputation on explosive power and precise timing, connecting on 49 percent of his significant strikes throughout his career — a notably high accuracy rate for a fighter operating at his volume of nearly three and a half significant strikes per minute.
Nicholson, known as "The Spartan," entered the contest with a 7-4-0 record and trains at American Top Team Orlando. The 36-year-old American is a physically imposing presence at six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach. He lands over four significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active strikers in any room, though his accuracy sits at 43 percent. Nicholson has recorded minimal takedown activity and carries a modest submission threat at half an attempt per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Romero's knockout finish at 49 years old underscores his continued relevance as a combat sports attraction
- The bareknuckle MMA format, which eliminates gloves, amplifies the finishing potential of heavy-handed strikers like Romero
- Nicholson's size advantage — four inches taller and a four-inch reach edge — was ultimately not enough to neutralize Romero's accuracy and power
