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Cuban crisis! Yoel Romero vs. Hector Lombard booked to headline Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA on May 1
TL;DR
Yoel Romero will face Hector Lombard in the main event of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA on May 1, 2026, in Miami, Florida. The matchup features two Cuban fighters with a history of rivalry.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 24: Yoel Romero walks to the cage before fighting against Thiago Santos during the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event at Kingdom Arena on February 24, 2024 in Riyadh. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cuban violence is headed to Florida.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA — the bare-knuckle fight promotion led by Jorge Masvidal — returns on Fri., May 1, 2026, in Miami, Florida, and the main event is pure chaos.
Former multi-time UFC title challenger Yoel Romero is set to collide with fellow Cuban powerhouse Hector Lombard in a bout that has bad blood written all over it.
The promotion is coming off a successful event in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which featured a string of finishes — including wins from former UFC standouts Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos, both of whom advanced in the ongoing 16-man Heavyweight tournament with a $500,000 prize on the line (watch highlights).
Now, the next round kicks off in Miami — and it’s headlined by two of the most explosive Cuban fighters to ever compete in combat sports.
Romero (16-7) hasn’t fought in MMA since defeating Thiago Santos on the PFL vs. Bellator card in early 2024, but the 48-year-old has stayed incredibly active across multiple disciplines. He’s picked up knockout wins in Dirty Boxing, made a successful stop in BKFC, knocking out a local McDonald’s cashier, and even competed in Real American Freestyle, going 1-1. Most recently, he dropped a decision in a bare-knuckle bout overseas.
As for Lombard, he’s no stranger to bare-knuckle violence.
“Showeather” last competed for Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA in 2023, stopping Chris Sarro in the first round. He also went 3-1 in BKFC, with his lone loss coming to Lorenzo Hunt. However, he’s coming off a brutal 19-second knockout loss to James Cannon at DBX 3 (watch highlights).
No other fights have been announced for the May 1 card just yet.
To checkout the latest bare knuckle-related news and notes click here.
Q&A
What date is the Yoel Romero vs. Hector Lombard fight scheduled for?
The fight is scheduled for May 1, 2026.
Where will the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event take place?
The event will take place in Miami, Florida.
What is the significance of the Yoel Romero vs. Hector Lombard matchup?
The matchup is significant due to the rivalry between the two Cuban fighters and their history as former UFC competitors.