Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title challenger-turned bare-knuckle bruiser Yoel Romero was expected to compete at BKFC KnuckleMania 6 this weekend (Sat., Feb. 7, 2026) opposite Lorenzo Hunt, but the bout fell apart weeks ago after Romero withdrew, citing illness.
Turns out, that may not have been the full story.
Romero is now booked to headline IBA Bare Knuckle 4 against Russia’s Vagab Vagabov on March 28, 2026, inside KSK Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia … a completely different bare-knuckle promotion.
Romero signed the contract just days ago, officially moving on from his planned BKFC appearance.
Vagabov, however, is no easy assignment. The Russian standout owns a 30-1-1 MMA record and has spent recent years focusing on boxing, compiling a 3-1 record with three knockouts. While this appears to be his first bare-knuckle bout, his power and experience make him a dangerous test.
Still… good luck with that.
