Yoel Romero Goes Bareknuckle: The Soldier of God Joins BKFC’s Explosive Roster
Talk about staying savage at nearly 50 years old — Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero is showing zero signs of slowing down. In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the combat sports world, the former UFC and Bellator title contender has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). That's right. The gloves are off — literally.
🔥 A Bareknuckle Chapter Begins
Romero was officially unveiled as a BKFC fighter during the Champions Summit press conference in Hollywood, Florida. Who made the announcement? None other than BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor himself. If that doesn’t scream “big-time,” what does? McGregor’s presence alone gave the reveal a blockbuster vibe, and with Romero’s name added to the BKFC ranks, the promotion just added another level of electricity.
This isn’t just some aging vet cashing in on one last payday. Romero looks dangerous even at 48, and fans who've followed his journey know this man isn’t just another name — he’s a freak of nature with knockout power, a granite chin, and Olympic-level wrestling skills.
📍 Romero’s Combat Journey: From UFC to BKFC
To really appreciate this new chapter, let’s rewind a bit.
Romero made his exit from the UFC in 2020 after a middleweight title loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 248. While it wasn’t his finest performance, it certainly wasn’t the end of his story. From there, he jumped ship to Bellator and took on a fresh challenge — at light heavyweight.
Over the course of five fights in Bellator, Romero went 3-2. He even scored himself a title shot against reigning 205-pound champ Vadim Nemkov. Though he came up short, it was a gritty performance that showed Romero still had gas in the tank. And let’s be honest, watching Romero walk through punches like the Terminator is worth the price of admission alone.
His final Bellator appearance came in the high-profile PFL vs. Bellator crossover card. That night, he squared off against fellow ex-UFC fighter Thiago Santos. It was a back-and-forth banger, but Romero walked away with a clean unanimous decision victory — a strong exit from Bellator and an exclamation mark on his free agency value.
💣 Dirty Boxing Warm-Up
But here’s the kicker — Romero didn’t just chill after Bellator. Oh no.
He dipped his toes into something new: Dirty Boxing. A unique rule set somewhere between boxing and MMA, Dirty Boxing allows clinch work, short strikes, and a more “in-your-face” brawling style — tailor-made for someone with Romero’s skillset and ferocity.
In that realm, he picked up two wins. One against Duane Crespo in November and another against Ras Hylton in March. Both fights ended with Romero looking like he hadn’t aged a day, which only amped up speculation about his next move. Now we know — it was all a warm-up for his bareknuckle leap.
🧨 BKFC Isn’t Playing Around
Let’s be real — BKFC is building something special here. And with Romero joining the roster, they’ve added even more legitimacy and raw power to their lineup. But wait, it gets better. Romero isn’t the only major name headed to the promotion.
BKFC also just announced the signings of:
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Thiago Santos – The same guy Romero just beat. Santos, another former UFC title challenger, brings heavy hands and a kill-or-be-killed style that’s tailor-made for bareknuckle madness.
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Aspen Ladd – Once considered a top prospect in the UFC women’s bantamweight division, Ladd went 3-2 across stints in PFL and Bellator. She’s tough, gritty, and looking for redemption.
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Derek Brunson – After exiting the UFC in 2023 and making just one appearance in PFL, Brunson now gets a shot to make waves in the bareknuckle world.
That’s four recognizable names, all UFC-tested, all battle-hardened, and all looking to unleash their fury without gloves.
🎯 What Makes BKFC So Appealing?
Here’s the thing — bareknuckle fighting isn’t just about brutality. Sure, the blood flows faster and the knockouts come quicker, but it’s also about pure striking skill. There’s no room for error. Every punch carries risk, and that forces fighters to rely on precision, timing, and toughness.
Romero, with his freak athleticism and controlled explosiveness, could be a nightmare in this format. He may have been one of the scariest middleweights and light heavyweights in the UFC and Bellator, but now, he might be downright terrifying in a sport where one clean shot changes everything.
And let’s not forget — the man can wrestle if it ever comes to clinch situations. That upper-body control he developed from years of Olympic-level grappling? It’s going to translate beautifully into bareknuckle infighting.
🎤 The McGregor Factor
Another interesting layer to all this is Conor McGregor’s increasing involvement with BKFC. He’s not just a spokesperson. As a co-owner, McGregor’s eyes are clearly on the future of combat sports — and he sees bareknuckle as a massive growth opportunity.
With his stamp of approval and financial backing, BKFC is now attracting names who wouldn’t have touched the sport a few years ago. And that includes serious contenders like Romero, Santos, Brunson, and Ladd.
Romero’s signing was announced with fanfare and energy. McGregor made sure it landed like a bombshell — and he succeeded. The event felt more like a celebration of violence and legacy than just a press conference.
👀 What’s Next?
Now comes the fun part: Who will Romero fight first?
That’s the million-dollar question. Will it be Santos again in a rematch? Or will BKFC throw him in there with one of their rising stars to test the waters?
Either way, one thing’s for sure: Yoel Romero is not done. Far from it. He’s taking on a brutal new challenge and doing it with that signature Romero swagger.
At 48, he’s redefining what’s possible in combat sports longevity. This isn’t a farewell tour — it’s a restart, with fists flying freely and the crowd loving every second of it.
🥊 Final Thoughts
Romero heading to BKFC proves one thing: bareknuckle fighting is no longer a fringe spectacle. It’s becoming a home for battle-tested warriors looking for a new kind of thrill. And with names like Romero leading the charge, it’s only going to get more popular.
So buckle up. The Soldier of God is back — and this time, he’s coming in with no gloves, no hesitation, and nothing but knockout intentions.
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