Yoel Romero

Yoel Romero Palacio (born April 30, 1977) is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was a challenger for the UFC Middleweight Championship, in Bellator MMA where he was a challenger for the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship, and in Strikeforce.

Romero competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Real American Freestyle (RAF), where he was formerly interim RAF Light Heavyweight Champion. As a freestyle wrestler, Romero previously competed at 85 kilograms, where he was the 1999 World Champion (five-time medalist at the World Championships), the 2000 Olympic Silver medalist, a three-time World Cup winner (six-time medalist), the 2003 Pan American Games Gold medalist (bronze medalist in 1999) and a five-time Pan American Champion.