49-year-old Yoel Romero knocks out Alex Nicholson in 70 seconds at bare-knuckle event

Yoel Romero delivered a stunning 70-second knockout over Alex Nicholson at Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion, demonstrating that the Cuban combat sports veteran remains a dangerous finisher at 49 years old.

Romero, nicknamed "Soldier of God," holds a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 5 losses. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the southpaw trains out of American Top Team and has long been regarded as one of the most physically imposing athletes to compete at the elite level. His recorded striking accuracy of 49 percent and 1.57 takedowns per 15 minutes reflect a fighter equally comfortable on the feet and on the mat — a combination that proved decisive here. He shot a double-leg takedown to put Nicholson on the canvas, then landed a single devastating punch to the jaw that broke it, forcing his opponent to tap.

Alex Nicholson, known as "The Spartan," is 36 years old and represents the United States out of American Top Team Orlando. He stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and carries a 7-4-0 professional record. Nicholson lands 4.12 significant strikes per minute at 43 percent accuracy, making him an active and aggressive striker in his own right. On this night, however, the fight was over before his advantages could come into play.

Why it matters

• Romero's finish raises immediate questions about whether he has more to offer in the bare-knuckle or combat sports space at 49
• The result adds a loss for Nicholson, who at 7-4 needed a performance to build momentum
• The stylistic contrast — Romero's elite wrestling and power versus Nicholson's striking length — never had time to fully develop, leaving the matchup somewhat unresolved
• Both fighters train within the American Top Team network, adding an unusual inter-gym dimension to the result