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The Cuban Yoel Romero once again demonstrated that he remains an elite force in combat sports by declaring himself the interim champion of the Real American Freestyle (RAF) during the fourth edition of the event, held on December 20 in Indiana.
At the age of 48, the Pinar del Río native known as the "Soldier of God" returned to his roots in wrestling, the discipline where he built much of his sporting prestige, to face American Pat Downey, a high-level opponent who holds a gold medal from the 2019 Junior World Championship.
From the very first moments of the match, Romero showcased his experience, strength, and tactical awareness. The Cuban was vastly superior and ended the bout with a technical superiority, achieving a resounding score of 10-0, without needing to exhaust the allotted time.
Downey never found answers against the veteran fighter's dominance. Romero controlled the match on all fronts, executing constant imbalances, physically pressuring his opponent, and pushing him out of the competitive area multiple times, which allowed him to steadily score points and secure an unquestionable victory.
The performance of the Cuban, Olympic silver medalist in Sydney 2000 and former UFC star, elicited a standing ovation from the audience present at the Fisher Event Center, where numerous fans celebrated the new success of the Caribbean athlete. After the victory was confirmed, Romero thanked the supporters with an acrobatic spin, a gesture that spectacularly capped off the evening.
With this victory, Yoel Romero adds a new title to a career defined by longevity and competitive excellence, reaffirming his relevance in high-level arenas and solidifying his impact in Real American Freestyle, a form that combines wrestling with modern elements of sports entertainment.
Last September, Romero also defied time and expectations with a stunning debut in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
The fighter from Pinar del Río made his debut at BKFC 80, held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, with a spectacular victory over Theo Doukas, resolving the bout in the second round when the referee halted the action at 1:56 after three knockdowns and a deep cut that left his opponent unable to continue.
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