Yoel Romero Set to Face Suspended MMA Star in Bare Knuckle Fight

The 48-year-old 'Soldier of God' continues his active combat sports schedule.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:55am

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Yoel Romero, the 48-year-old MMA veteran known as the 'Soldier of God', is set to make his debut with the IBA Bare Knuckle promotion on March 28 in Saint Petersburg. He will face Vagab Vagabov, a 30-1-1 MMA fighter who was previously suspended for continuing to hit his opponent after the referee had stopped their bout.

Why it matters

Romero's continued activity in multiple combat sports formats at his advanced age is remarkable, as he looks to extend his career well into his late 40s. The matchup with Vagabov, who has faced disciplinary issues in the past, also raises questions about fighter safety and regulation in the bare-knuckle boxing scene.

The details

Romero was originally scheduled to challenge Lorenzo Hunt for the BKFC light heavyweight title at Knuckle Mania in Philadelphia, but had to withdraw due to illness. Now, he will make his IBA Bare Knuckle debut against Vagabov, who holds a 30-1-1 record in MMA and has competed in various rule sets over the years, including two bouts with the World Series of Fighting (now PFL). Vagabov was previously suspended for five months after repeatedly hitting his opponent even after the referee had stepped in to stop their bout.

  • Romero experienced his first defeat since 2023 last month at RAF 5 in Sunrise, Florida.
  • Romero's IBA Bare Knuckle debut against Vagabov is scheduled for March 28 at the KSK Arena in Saint Petersburg.

The players

Yoel Romero

A 48-year-old MMA veteran known as the 'Soldier of God' who is continuing his active combat sports schedule, including a move into bare-knuckle boxing.

Vagab Vagabov

A 30-1-1 MMA fighter who will face Romero in his IBA Bare Knuckle debut. Vagabov was previously suspended for five months after repeatedly hitting his opponent even after the referee had stopped their bout.

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What’s next

The bout between Romero and Vagabov is scheduled for March 28 at the KSK Arena in Saint Petersburg.

The takeaway

Romero's continued activity in multiple combat sports formats at the age of 48 is remarkable, as he looks to extend his career well into his late 40s. However, the matchup with Vagabov, who has faced disciplinary issues in the past, raises questions about fighter safety and regulation in the bare-knuckle boxing scene.