Looks like Yoel Romero believes he’ll have exactly Bellator debut fans want to see.
The multiple-time UFC middleweight title challenger said there’s a good chance he’ll take on Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in what would be both fighters’ Bellator debut sometime in early 2021.
Romero (13-5 MMA) signed with Bellator earlier this week after getting released by the UFC in a move announced Dec. 4. The news came in the heels of Bellator announcing the signing of Johnson, who’s a multiple-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger.
The fighter nicknamed “Soldier of God” said all options are still open, but the potential bout with “Rumble” is a strong possibility.
“Citing a name here is just a speculation, because there are still things that I can’t speak on right now, but it’s a great possibility,” Romero said in Spanish speaking with ESPN regarding a fight with Johnson. “There’s a 90 percent chance that he (Johnson) will be my first opponent. It’s a fight that a lot of people would be pleased (if it happens).”
Romero expects to compete at 205 pounds, a weight class above where he become a perennial UFC contender. Romero likes Bellator’s light heavyweight division and feels it’s a top quality weight class.
“I think there are many athletes at 205 with great quality,” Romero said. “We were looking at it with (his management team), the quality that exists in Bellator at 205.
“Taking out the champion the Russian guy (Vadim Nemkov), they currently have five or four athletes, Lyoto Machida who was champion of the UFC is in this division, plus three athletes that fought for world titles in the division and that they were ranked in the top five when Jon Jones was there, who in my opinion is the best pound for pound.”
Romero said he was training for a fight in January prior to the UFC release. The former Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler representing Cuba said he’s still training hard and could be ready to make his Bellator debut in the first quarter of 2021.
“I was training before they released me from the UFC to fight in January, so it was soon,” Romero said. “I’m still with the same training, so I’m ready to fight in February. I’m ready, I’m prepared and I’m happy waiting for big things to come. And for big things to come you need to be hungry and happy. All those top fighters at 205, that’s who we’re aiming for so we can get to the top.”