Who Is Yoel Romero? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Yoel Romero, born on April 30, 1977, in Pinar del Río, Cuba, is a renowned Olympic wrestler and mixed martial artist. He gained international fame for his achievements in wrestling before transitioning to MMA, where he has established himself as a formidable fighter. With a charismatic personality and relentless work ethic, Romero continues to be a significant figure in the world of combat sports.
In 2025, Yoel celebrates his 48th birthday, showcasing not only his physical prowess but also his enduring spirit and dedication to his craft. As a multiple-time champion in wrestling and MMA, he remains an inspiration to many aspiring athletes worldwide.
| Occupation | Martial Artist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 30, 1977 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Pinar del Río, Cuba |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | Cuba |
Popularity
Yoel Romero's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Yoel Romero stands at an impressive height of 6 feet (183 cm) and maintains a competitive weight of approximately 185 pounds (84 kg) for his fights. His physically imposing stature, coupled with a well-built muscular physique, has been instrumental in his success in both Olympic wrestling and MMA.
Body Measurements:
Romero signed with Strikeforce in July 2011 and made his promotional debut against Rafael Cavalcante on September 10, 2011, at Strikeforce 36. He lost the fight via KO in the second round. A neck injury kept him out of action until 2013.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While Yoel Romero has often kept his personal life private, as of 2025, he is reportedly in a relationship, although the details regarding his girlfriend are not widely publicized. Yoel has been known to value his family deeply; he has children and is known for dedicating time to his family despite his busy career schedule.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Yoel Romero's estimated net worth stands at approximately $10 million. His earnings primarily stem from his successful fighting career, sponsorships, and business ventures in fitness and sports. With a mix of fight purses and endorsements, Romero's financial portfolio reflects his status as one of the top athletes in his field.
For his third fight, Romero was again set to face Derek Brunson on January 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 35. After trailing for two rounds, Romero won the fight in the third via TKO due to punches and elbows to Brunson's body. Both fighters earned a $50,000 a Fight of the Night bonus award.
Career, Business, and Investments
Yoel Romero’s career in combat sports began with wrestling, where he achieved Olympic success by winning a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Transitioning to mixed martial arts, Romero quickly made a name for himself in organizations such as UFC, where he became a title contender and showcased exceptional athleticism and striking abilities.
In addition to his fighting career, Romero has ventured into business, including fitness-related endeavors. He has launched his own line of health supplements and remains a sought-after figure for fitness endorsements. His brand partnerships and investments in the health and fitness industry continue to contribute to his impressive net worth.
Romero pursued legal action against the supplement company, but they never interposed an answer.
After being awarded default judgment, Romero was awarded $27 million in damages: $3 million for lost wages, $3 million for reputable harm, and $3 million for emotional damage, all of which were tripled as allowed by the New Jersey “Consumer Fraud Act” when a company is “found out to have committed consumer fraud”.
However, in mid-2021 it was reported that New Jersey Superior Court reduced the damage awards for lost wages and emotional stress to total of $12.45 million. The reputational damages will be decided in another trial meeting.
Social Network
Yoel Romero is active on several social media platforms, engaging with fans and sharing insights into his life and training. As of 2025, you can find him on:
- Instagram: @yoelromeromma
- Twitter: @YoelRomeroMMA
- Facebook: Yoel Romero
In a controversial post-fight interview after his victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night 70, it was assumed by many that Romero was expressing disagreement with the Obergefell v. Hodges supreme court ruling.
However, during the post fight press conference and subsequent interviews the following day, Romero denied referring to gay marriage and apologized for his comments while maintaining that they were misunderstood. Many thought Romero said "No for gay Jesus" while he actually said "No forget Jesus" as he is not fluent in English.
Education
Yoel Romero received his education in Cuba, where he trained extensively in wrestling from a young age. His dedication to the sport allowed him to compete at elite levels, eventually leading him to pursue a career that would take him from the Olympic stage to the forefront of mixed martial arts. While exact details about his formal education remain scarce, his athletic training has been a critical component of his personal and professional development.
Romero was informed of a potential doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition test conducted by USADA on January 13, 2016 after his bout with Ronaldo Souza on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194, which Romero won via split decision.
On February 8, Romero and his manager explained that he had taken a supplement after his fight that turned out to be contaminated. His team and USADA both sent out the supplement for testing and it was confirmed that it contained a banned substance. That substance was not listed on the label, his manager said.
They did not want to reveal the name of the supplement or the substance as USADA was investigating the issue. On March 23, it was announced that Romero would appeal his suspension. His team and USADA discussed a deal for a nine-month suspension for the fighter, but Romero preferred to go to arbitration.
The typical USADA anti-doping violation suspension is two years. Eventually, on April 4, both parties reached an agreement for a six-month suspension. USADA revealed that Romero had tested positive for ibutamoren, a growth hormone release stimulator.
An unopened version of the supplement was independently tested and the banned substance did indeed come up, even though it was not listed on the label. The result of the Souza fight was not overturned, as it was an out-of-competition test that occurred after the fight; Romero passed both his pre-fight and fight night tests for the Souza fight.
