Yoel Romero, at 49 years old, knocked out Alex Nicholson in Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion in just 70 seconds. Romero shot for a double-leg takedown, took Nicholson down, and landed a devastating punch to the jaw that broke it. Nicholson, 35 years old with a 22-17 MMA record, tapped out immediately after the strike. The fight showcased Romero's continued power despite his advanced age in combat sports.
Yoel Romero turned back the clock in stunning fashion on May 2, 2026, stopping Alex Nicholson in just 70 seconds inside Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion. The Cuban legend, now 49 years old, needed barely over a minute to put the bout away, shooting a double-leg takedown, dragging Nicholson to the canvas, and delivering a single devastating punch to the jaw that reportedly broke it. Nicholson tapped immediately after the strike landed.
Romero, known as "Soldier of God," carries a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 5 losses. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the southpaw wrestled at an elite level throughout his career and brings a takedown rate of 1.57 per 15 minutes along with a striking accuracy of 49 percent. The finish demonstrated that his trademark explosive power remains very much intact at an age when most fighters have long since retired.
His opponent, Alex "The Spartan" Nicholson, is a 36-year-old American fighter out of American Top Team Orlando who holds a 7-4-0 record in MMA competition. At six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach, Nicholson owns a size advantage over most opponents and averages 4.12 significant strikes landed per minute. The fight, however, never allowed him to establish his offense before the finish arrived.
Why it matters
- Romero's stoppage win at 49 years old is a rare example of veteran power translating directly to a bare-knuckle MMA format.
- The result raises his profile within Masvidal's promotion and signals he remains a marketable draw despite his age.
- Nicholson's loss snaps any momentum he may have been building and highlights the dangers of sharing the canvas with elite-level wrestlers even in non-traditional promotions.
