40-year old Yoel Romero, also known as the “Soldier of God”, is a fine physical specimen. Ahead of his middleweight showdown with Australian Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker at UFC 213, Romero took to the Las Vegas stage to show off his physique and fitness. He walked out to the crowd absolutely ripped and went berserk to loud cheers.
Romero (12-1) will face Whittaker (18-4) on the undercard of UFC 213 which takes place July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena. Romero has won his last eight bouts, including six technical knockouts to earn the matchup. While Whittaker has posted seven straight with four stoppages. Whittaker’s most notable victory came in his last match, a TKO of the dangerous Jacare Souza.
Yoel Romero is absolutely RIPPED and came out to the stage to show off his physique
Romero, dressed in just a pair of tights, performed a few strength and conditioning drills as well as some stretches. He also shadow boxed a little bit with his trainer and showed off his flexibility with a few splits.
One thing is certain though, Romero does indeed appear ready to go to war. Whittaker I’m sure is also equally as ready, and this bout should be an absolute doozy. Whenever two well-conditioned athletes who are as tough as nails go at it, the fans come out as the real winners.
The UFC middleweight champion is of course Michael Bisping. Romero had long been after a showdown with Bisping, and if he wins against Whittaker, that fight could be next in line. Whittaker on the other hand has just recently entered the fold of the elite. When he beat Souza last April, he became instantly famous. Jacare Souza was no joke, and Whittaker absolutely flattened him.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd1n-jWUitQ&w=728&h=409]
Watch Romero’s UFC 213 Workout Video here
Still, you can’t help but get the sense that Yoel Romero is the favorite in this fight. As good as Whittaker is. Romero isn’t taking his opponent lightly however.
“All opponents are dangerous,” Romero said this week, via MMAjunkie’s Mike Bohn and Hathaway. “He’s a young fighter, he’s hungry. These things always make your opponent dangerous.”
Bisping is of course waiting patiently for former champion and welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre to make his way back to the Octagon. GSP however, isn’t ready. Bisping will be forced to move on this Saturday if GSP hasn’t replied by then.
“Georges, you’ve got until Saturday,” Bisping told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour (via FanSided’s Mike Heck). “Because on Saturday, I’m going to be on the FS1 post fight show and one of those two, tune in, Whittaker or Romero will be joining me at the desk, so you know that will have fireworks. If I can’t say I’m fighting GSP by then, then I have to say that I’m fighting Whittaker or Romero.”
Whatever happens, at least fans know they have some great fights to look forward to.
Full UFC 213 Fight Card
Main Card
Amanda Nunes (14-4) vs Valentina Shevchenko (14-2) – Women’s bantamweight championship
Yoel Romero (12-1) vs Robert Whittaker (19-4)
Daniel Omielanczuk (19-7-1) vs Curtis Blaydes (7-1)
Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1) vs Alistair Overeem (42-15)
Anthony Pettis (19-6) vs Jim Miller (28-9)
Prelims
Travis Browne (18-6-1) vs Aleksei Oleinik (51-10-1)
Chad Laprise (12-2) vs Brian Camozzi (7-3)
Thiago Santos (14-5) vs Gerald Meerschaert (26-8)
Jordan Mein (29-11) vs Belal Muhammad (11-2)
