Yoel Romero on Khamzat Chimaev: “Like Messi and Maradona”
Yoel Romero praises Khamzat Chimaev’s wrestling, comparing him to legends like Messi and Maradona. A clash between them would be fireworks.
Yoel Romero praises Chimaev’s wrestling: “Like Messi and Maradona”
MMA legend Yoel Romero believes a fight between him and Khamzat Chimaev would be nothing short of spectacular. The Olympic silver medalist recently heaped praise on Chimaev’s wrestling, drawing comparisons to football icons such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Pelé.
“The guy is a very good wrestler. The guy is amazing. He is like Messi and Maradona, like Maradona and Pele,”
Despite being 47 years old, Romero remains active in professional MMA and hasn’t ruled out a return to the UFC. He believes that his fighting style would match up perfectly with Chimaev’s.
Romero’s elite credentials: Olympic silver and UFC stardom
Born in Cuba, Romero is not only a fearsome MMA striker but also a decorated wrestler. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was world champion in freestyle wrestling in 1999. After transitioning to MMA, Romero made his UFC debut in 2013 with a TKO win over Clifford Starks.
He went on to defeat top-tier opponents such as Lyoto Machida, Derek Brunson, Chris Weidman and Tim Kennedy. Romero earned a title shot at UFC 213 against Robert Whittaker but lost via unanimous decision in a close, five-round war. He later challenged Israel Adesanya for the undisputed middleweight belt at UFC 248 but once again fell short by decision in a slow-paced bout.
Weight issues and missed title opportunities
Romero’s journey in the middleweight division was marred by repeated weight-cutting issues. He missed weight for the interim title fight at UFC 221, where he knocked out Luke Rockhold, and again ahead of the rematch with Whittaker. These missteps cost him official eligibility for the belt on multiple occasions.
Despite these setbacks, his record and fighting style earned him legendary status among fans and fighters alike.
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Could Romero vs. Chimaev actually happen?
When asked whether he would consider returning to the UFC for a clash with Chimaev, Romero didn’t confirm any plans — but made his interest clear.
“For me, it would be a very good match, against Chimaev. Stylistically. A very, very good fight,”
Chimaev is currently undefeated in his professional career and a rising force in the UFC’s middleweight division. His wrestling-heavy game has dominated nearly every opponent so far. According to Romero, that level of wrestling is “Olympic level”, and he believes he could match it with his own style honed over decades of elite competition.
Romero’s next chapter: Global Fight League debut
Romero is not done yet. He was originally set to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in his debut for the Global Fight League (GFL) — a newly launched promotion with a unique team-based format. However, Rua recently withdrew from the bout. Romero will now reportedly face former Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi instead. The fight is expected to headline the inaugural GFL event in mid-2025, although an exact date has yet to be announced.
This marks a continuation of Romero’s career outside the UFC, proving that even in his late 40s, he’s still hungry to compete at the highest level.
Summary and call to action
Yoel Romero sees greatness in Khamzat Chimaev — comparing his wrestling skills to the greatest footballers of all time. He’s also confident that a matchup between them would be thrilling. Could fans actually see Romero return to the UFC for one final clash?
Do you think Romero’s experience and wrestling could trouble Chimaev? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: MMAnytt.se
