Former UFC star Yoel Romero has sparked concerns among fans who believe he has suffered brain damage after 'barking' at the camera.
The Cuban fighter enjoyed a long career in the UFC where he campaigned as a middleweight, most recently coming up short in a title challenge against Israel Adesanya. Romero has since been campaigning in Bellator and recorded his second win with the promotion on Friday night.
Romero taking on Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 25 in Dublin, when he picked up a third-round KO after landing a series of elbows on his helpless rival. And shortly after recording the superb stoppage, Romero began 'barking' at the camera having prevented the fight from inevitably going to the judges scorecards.
Fans have now been quick to react to his bizarre behaviour and believe he may have suffered Chronic traumatic encephalopathy [CTE] as a result of competing in the octagon. One wrote: "That's what happens when your job is 90 per cent head trauma." Another agreed: "This man has a sign on his house 'Beware of the Dog'. This man doesn't have a dog."
Other fans had a more fun reaction to the antics, with one adding: "The Walking Dead should cast him as a super zombie." Another wrote "Soldier of Dog" in a mocking nickname for Romero who has been known as 'Soldier of God' throughout his career. Fans were also happy with his performance with one writing: "Romero finally hitting his prime." A concluding fan agreed: "You could never lock me in there with him."
What did you make of Yoel Romero's Bellator performance? Let us know in the comments section below
Romero's future remains uncertain after his departure from the UFC, but he is now planning to move down to 185lb after his latest win. "Right now, I think all the 205lb [fighters], they can chill out – they don’t have to worry about anything," he said after the fight. “I knew exactly what his flaws were and what his strongpoints were.
“Us Latins say, what we’ve got cooking is we’re really going to chase that title at 185. If the opportunity does raise up for fighting at 185, and challenging for the title, I’d love for it to be here in Europe."
