Yoel Romero defeated Alex Nicholson by knockout at a Gamebred bare-knuckle MMA event promoted by Jorge Masvidal. The 49-year-old Romero finished the fight in 70 seconds after taking Nicholson down and landing a brutal punch to the jaw, breaking it and forcing Nicholson to tap out. Nicholson, 35 years old, has a mixed record of 22-17 in MMA according to various sources. The victory demonstrates Romero's continued ability to compete at a high level despite his age.
Yoel Romero added another highlight-reel finish to his résumé on May 2, 2026, stopping Alex Nicholson by knockout in just 70 seconds at a Gamebred bare-knuckle MMA event promoted by former UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal. Romero took Nicholson to the mat before landing a devastating punch to the jaw that broke it, prompting Nicholson to tap out.
Romero, known as "Soldier of God," is 49 years old and fights out of American Top Team. The Cuban-born fighter, who competes southpaw, carries a professional MMA record of 13-5. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, Romero has historically been one of the sport's most dangerous finishers, connecting on 49 percent of his significant strikes and averaging 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Nicholson, nicknamed "The Spartan," is a 36-year-old American fighter who also trains at American Top Team, though the Orlando affiliate. He stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and holds a professional record of 7-4. An orthodox striker, Nicholson lands 4.12 significant strikes per minute and connects at a 43 percent accuracy rate, though he has not recorded a takedown in tracked bouts.
Why it matters
- Romero, at 49, demonstrated he remains a legitimate finishing threat outside the traditional MMA promotion circuit
- The result came at a bare-knuckle MMA event, a format that amplifies striking danger and played to Romero's explosive power
- Despite the size disadvantage — Nicholson holds a three-inch height edge and a four-inch reach advantage — Romero neutralized those attributes by securing the takedown before delivering the finish
