Romero starches Rockhold in 3rd round of UFC 221 closer
Yoel Romero pulled yet another third-round stoppage out of his hat.
The 40-year-old flattened Luke Rockhold with a pair of hellacious left hands for the KO 1:28 into Round 3 of UFC 221's middleweight main event in Perth on Saturday. Even in victory, Romero wasn't eligible to win the interim title that was at stake for Rockhold due to coming in heavy at Friday's weigh-ins, and he apologized for the transgression immediately after collecting his sixth third-round knockout in nine promotional victories.
BRUTAAAL! Yoel Romero vence Luke Rockhold por nocaute no terceiro round. O cubano foi fatal! Entrou com diretaço de esquerda fulminante. Sensacional! Lembrando que Romero só não conquistou o cinturão interino dos Médios porque não bateu o peso na pesagem oficial. #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/mYAB8GortL
— Octógono UFC (@OctogonoVirtual) February 11, 2018
The Cuban likely secured a rematch opposite reigning champ Robert Whittaker with the emphatic W - one that might have to wait, as he was reportedly helped out of the Octagon with what appeared to be a leg injury soon thereafter.
After a tentative first round that saw Romero land little of consequence while Rockhold chopped away at his base with kicks, the former opened the second with a blitz that had the latter reeling toward the fence. Little of the surprise flurry connected cleanly, but Romero followed it with a barrage of punches to Rockhold's midsection and some looping bombs for good measure before his foe could circle away.
Romero charges at Rockhold with punches across the Octagon! @YoelRomeroMMA coming out swinging in round 2! #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/J4w5kQpRvB
— UFC (@ufc) February 11, 2018
Rockhold all but abandoned his kicks and obliged Romero with a jab-heavy duel in boxing range through the second stanza, and the Cuban made him rue the accommodation by flooring him with an overhand left, then putting his lights out for good with another haymaker on the mat.
The 33-year-old Rockhold - who lost his crown to Michael Bisping by first-round KO at UFC 199 - has now been put away in two of his last three and succumbed to strikes in all four of his professional defeats.