It’s not easy being a matchmaker for former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero.
Bare Knuckle FC continued its highly-active roster building when it signed one of the most dangerous men on the planet, Yoel Romero, to its promotion. BKFC later announced that Romero will make his bare-knuckle debut on September 12th against a to-be-determined opponent.
Romero joined some of BKFC’s newest additions, including Thiago Santos and Aspen Ladd, at a recent press conference in Florida. Despite Romero’s legendary resume and accolades, BKFC is already having issues booking him a fight.
Yoel Romero turned down by ‘several’ top BKFC fighters just hours after signing
In his MMA prime, Romero was one of the UFC middleweight division’s most dangerous challengers, as evidenced by wild knockouts over legends Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman. After a loss to then-UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 248, Romero parted ways with the promotion, going on to fight in Bellator and PFL.
Since then, Romero has taken on unique challenges at this latter stage of his combat sports career. Despite being 48 years old, Romero demonstrates the athleticism of someone half his age.
As Romero prepares to take off the gloves in his BKFC debut, the promotional brass are dealing with the unfortunate give-and-take of signing the former UFC star.
During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, BKFC President David Feldman revealed that several of the promotion’s stars have turned down a fight with Romero just hours after his signing.
“We have a couple of guys who already turned it down, and then we just had one guy that said he would take it,” Feldman said. “We don’t know if that fight is going to happen, but I’m very excited about it – especially because he’s going to make his debut Sept. 12 here at the Hard Rock. So in Miami, where he’s from.
“And to see Yoel Romero with the gloves off, I mean, that’s a dangerous thing.”
Romero gave fight fans a taste of what they can expect from his BKFC tenure in his two fights in Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship promotion. Romero knocked out Ras Hylton and Duane Crespo in brutal fashion in highlight-reel fashion.
Conor McGregor’s bizarre behavior at BKFC presser divided fight fans
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor’s odd opening speech at a recent BKFC press conference led many fight fans to question his stability and health on social media. McGregor, a part owner of the promotion, hasn’t fought in combat sports since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Despite his long hiatus, McGregor has expressed interest in potentially fighting in BKFC at a later date, possibly against Mike Perry. Perry will return to the ring later this year against a to-be-announced opponent.
As he continues his Irish presidential campaign, McGregor continues to tease fight fans about a potential comeback almost five full years since his last bout.
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