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Hector Lombard has withdrawn from the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA main event against Yoel Romero due to insufficient preparation time. 'Spartan' will step in to replace Lombard for the fight on May 1, 2026.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Hector Lombard enters the ring to fight David Mundell during the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships at Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center on February 15, 2020 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bummer.
Jorge Masvidalās Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA returns this week (Fri., May 1, 2026), but itās lost its all-Cuban main event. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and BKFC fighter Hector Lombard has withdrawn from his scheduled clash against Yoel Romero.
According to Lombard, the issue came down to preparation time.
āI see a lot of bad energy,ā Lombard said on Instagram. āI didnāt have enough time. Maybe a week and a half of training ā I most respect the game. For many years I havenāt respected the game, but I gotta respect the game from now on. I need the proper training and proper timeā¦I must be prepared.ā
Lombard 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, heās coming off a brutal 19-second knockout loss to at DBX 3 ().
Hector Lombard withdrew due to insufficient preparation time.
'Spartan' is stepping in to face Yoel Romero in place of Hector Lombard.
The Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event featuring Yoel Romero is scheduled for May 1, 2026.

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The good news? Romero is staying put ā and still headlining against fellow UFC veteran Alex Nicholson.
Romero (16-7) hasnāt competed in MMA since defeating Thiago Santos on the PFL vs. Bellator card in early 2024; however, the 48-year-old has stayed incredibly active across multiple disciplines. Heās notched knockout wins in Dirty Boxing, made a successful stop in BKFC. Most recently, he dropped a decision in a bare-knuckle bout overseas.
Nicholson (16-11) hasnāt won a fight since September 2024, when he knocked out former UFC fighter Zac Pauga. āThe Spartanā is currently 1-2 in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, knocking out Prince McLean in his debut but then getting stopped by Chase Sherman and Frank Tate.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA goes down this weekend in Miami, and it is free on YouTube.
To checkout the latest bare knuckle-related news and notes click here.