Gamebred Fighting Championship hosted an action-packed event at Unrivaled Arena in Miami, showcasing a thrilling lineup of bare-knuckle MMA bouts. The highly anticipated return of former UFC and Bellator star Yoel Romero was a major highlight.
Initially, Romero was slated to face Hector Lombard in the main event. However, Lombard withdrew from the fight due to undisclosed reasons. Stepping in on short notice was Alex Nicholson, a seasoned PFL veteran with seven fights in the promotion. Nicholson, known as ‘The Spartan,’ had recently faced three consecutive opening-round losses.
The main card saw a swift victory for Yoel Romero, who defeated Alex Nicholson via TKO at just 1:11 into the first round. Romero’s powerful performance was a testament to his enduring skill.
In another significant bout, Luis Palomino secured a comeback victory against Darrell Horcher, winning by TKO at 2:44 of the third round. This marked Palomino’s return to MMA after a seven-year absence, demonstrating resilience and determination.
Jake Heun also delivered an impressive performance, defeating Joel Bauman via TKO at 1:15 of the first round. This win was Heun’s first MMA victory since 2019.
Other main card results included:
- Jordan Heiderman def. Ronny Markes via TKO at 1:03 of Round 2.
- Kurt Holobaugh def. Lamar Brown via submission at 2:12 of Round 2.
- Tafon Nchukwi def. Marcos Rogério de Lima via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
- Brandon Girtz def. John Teixeira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
- Daniel James def. Tim Johnson via KO at 1:45 of Round 3.
- Rafael Alves def. Anthony Njokuani via submission at 0:31 of Round 1.
- Rami Hamed def. Zach Juusola via TKO at 1:53 of Round 2.
- Sabah Homasi def. Rafael Celestino via TKO at 1:18 of Round 1.
The preliminary card also featured exciting finishes:
- Paulo Machado def. Saul Almeida via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27).
- Marvens Beauge def. Nick Longoria via TKO at 0:38 of Round 1.
Gamebred FC: Romero vs. Nicholson – Full Results and Highlights
Gamebred Fighting Championship made its way to Miami’s Unrivaled Arena for a compelling night of bare-knuckle MMA action, highlighted by the return of former UFC and Bellator standout Yoel Romero. Originally scheduled to headline against Hector Lombard, Romero’s opponent change saw seven-fight PFL veteran Alex Nicholson step in on short notice. Nicholson, known as ‘The Spartan,’ had been on a losing streak, dropping his last three bouts in the first round.
The main event concluded swiftly, with Yoel Romero defeating Alex Nicholson via TKO in just 1:11 of the first round, showcasing his continued power.
The undercard also delivered significant moments. Luis Palomino mounted a remarkable comeback against Darrell Horcher, securing a TKO victory in the third round after being down on the scorecards. Jake Heun ended his MMA win drought, dating back to 2019, with a first-round TKO over Joel Bauman. This marked Heun’s return to the sport after a period of incarceration.
Key results from the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Main Card include:
- Yoel Romero def. Alex Nicholson via TKO (1:11, Round 1)
- Luis Palomino def. Darrell Horcher via TKO (2:44, Round 3)
- Jake Heun def. Joel Bauman via TKO (1:15, Round 1)
- Jordan Heiderman def. Ronny Markes via TKO (1:03, Round 2)
- Kurt Holobaugh def. Lamar Brown via submission (2:12, Round 2)
- Tafon Nchukwi def. Marcos Rogério de Lima via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Brandon Girtz def. John Teixeira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Daniel James def. Tim Johnson via KO (1:45, Round 3)
- Rafael Alves def. Anthony Njokuani via submission (0:31, Round 1)
- Rami Hamed def. Zach Juusola via TKO (1:53, Round 2)
- Sabah Homasi def. Rafael Celestino via TKO (1:18, Round 1)
The Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Prelims featured:
- Paulo Machado def. Saul Almeida via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Marvens Beauge def. Nick Longoria via TKO (0:38, Round 1)