Yoel Romero returned to winning ways.
The former UFC middleweight title challenger took on Alex Polizzi in a short notice light heavyweight fight in the co-main event of Bellator 280 which took place Friday in Paris, France.
And it was simply easy work for Romero, who dominated and battered Polizzi over three rounds.
The Cuban hurt and dropped Polizzi multiple times, but refused to go for the finish. The finish did eventually come at the buzzer of the third round.
Romero dropped Polizzi with a left hand during a blitz and the referee somewhat controversially called the fight a stoppage after the final bell had rung.
While the stoppage may have been controversial, the result certainly wasn’t, as Romero earned his first Bellator victory.
It also snapped a four-fight losing streak for “The Soldier of God” whose last victory came back in February 2018 when he knocked out Luke Rockhold.
“I wanted to deliver a message. And I think I did,” Romero said afterward.
Afterward, the promotion announced that Romero would face his originally scheduled opponent Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin which takes place September 23.
Check out the highlights below:
.@YoelRomeroMMA chopping legs 🪓 #Bellator280 pic.twitter.com/vjMKMJcwhg
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 6, 2022
Drive and slam from @YoelRomeroMMA to @EazyPolizzi.#Bellator280 LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/Qc5vWhEpDX
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 6, 2022
💥 @YoelRomeroMMA stumbles @EazyPolizzi! #Bellator280 LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/u2lvWBFaLd
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 6, 2022
👀 @YoelRomeroMMA is on the hunt…#Bellator280 LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/IXGESDP98r
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 6, 2022
𝗔𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗲𝗿 🤯@YoelRomeroMMA leaves it late to get the stoppage in front of a sold-out @Accor_Arena.#Bellator280 LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/NRwzhSB7Bq
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 6, 2022
