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“You calling me out and now you putting excuses to back out? What happened, you heard I send people to the hospital after my fights? Don’t back out now.” — Yoel Romero
I met Yoel Romero in summer 2017 while I was on location in Miami and had to answer for every shitty headline I ever wrote about him (like this one). During our little chat, I was afraid of both his big muscles and a potential trip to the hospital.
That’s why I’m willing to give reigning UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, a pass if what Romero says is true. “Soldier of God” believes “The Last Stylebender” is trying to avoid a potential showdown because he doesn’t want to end up like this guy.
“Hey Adesanya, why you calling me out and now you run away?” Romero said. “I am muscled, I am something like this? No man, fight. Take it today. Call Dana White and say, ‘Give me the fucking date.’ That’s it.”
White already told the combat sports media that Romero will need to score another win before getting a title shot against Adesanya. “Soldier of God” is just 1-3 over his last four and has a history of struggling to make the 185-pound weight limit.
The leading candidate is Jared Cannonier, currently ranked No. 4 at 185 pounds, just one spot behind Romero. The Cuban has already lost to Paulo Costa (No. 2) and Robert Whittaker (No. 1) and we now have former welterweight, Darren Till, coming in at No. 5.
Unless UFC flips the script and tries to book Romero vs. Gastelum … again.
