Former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero made his official bareknuckle boxing debut earlier tonight (Fri., Sept. 12, 2025) at BKFC 80 from inside Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and delivered a brutal second-round knockout finish.
Romero, who might be the most in-shape 48-year-old fighter ever, signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) back in July of this year. This comes after two successful knockout finishes under Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship banner.
It seemed like the perfect pairing once “Soldier of God” put ink to his BKFC contract, but the former UFC standout still needed to deliver the goods in his debut.
Luckily for Romero, he wasn’t given much of a test in his first-ever bareknuckle boxing match. The hulking veteran was pitted up against regional fighter, Theo Doukas, who has professional experience that you can count on one hand. It was a complete mismatch and an obvious layup for Romero.
“Soldier of God” toyed with Doukas in the first round before putting the finishing touches on his powerful bareknuckle boxing debut in the second frame. With about 35 seconds left in the round, Romero uncorked a perfectly-timed uppercut that broke Doukas’ defense and sent the heavyweight crashing to the canvas. He wasn’t able to return to his feet and Romero walked off with the knockout finish.
Check out the video highlights below:
