"I see a fight that's going to make the fans very happy. In the new breed of fighters, this man Lyoto Machida is one of the great ones. He will be a legend in this sport...My prediction is that I will put forth my maximum effort. I know God will be by my side and that all the hearts of the fans be content with my performance," stated UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero, who talked about his upcoming clash this Saturday with former UFC champion Lyoto Machida at UFC Fight Night. Check it out!
SWD: You grew up wrestling as a child in Cuba. Were you in special schools or camps then, and at what age did you start?
YR: Yes, I started wrestling at 8 years old. Cuba has a system of special schools.
SWD: What was that like?
YR: Life is difficult and those schools were difficult. I think being an athlete is difficult. Being in the military is difficult. Because as soon as you have goals and as soon as you have defeats, then nothing is easy.
SWD: You defected from Cuba to Germany in 2007. How hard was it leaving behind family?
YR: it wasn't easy. It wasn't hard...it still is hard. Leaving your family is never easy and it will stay difficult until you reconnect. And still to this day, being exiled from your family is going to leave you scars.
SWD: How challenging was the transition from world-class high level wrestling to MMA?
YR: Things are always challenging when you start something new, but I had already made the decision before I left Cuba to defect and to be exiled from my country. My mind was conditioned for what I expected to happen, and my goal was to be an MMA fighter.
SWD: Was your goal back then to make it into the UFC and become the Middleweight Champion?
YR: In Cuba, we didn't know the difference. We thought the sport was called UFC. I didn't' know there was a difference between MMA and UFC, so mentally, I was already in the UFC.
SWD: From 2011 to 2013, you were out of MMA with a neck injury. You actually broke your neck. Can you share what the injury was and how hard the road back from it was?
YR: I already answered this in a previous question. Before I left Cuba, I made up my mind that I was going to do this and make it into the big leagues.
SWD: So no matter what, you were coming back from that injury?
YR: I have full faith in God and myself. God blessed my family and myself and allowed me to return to health. God was the sustenance that upheld me. He was the other motor of propulsion. Because once I had my daughter, I had to keep on struggling for the life I wanted to give her. Before I left Cuba, I knew I needed to attain this goal of fighting. I had to do it. The doctors told me that I couldn't fight anymore because of the neck injury. I had to have surgery just to be an everyday citizen. They warned me any wrong move before the surgery and I could die or be a paraplegic.
SWD: Do you still deal with that injury? Is there still great risk to your health?
YR: At the time of the surgery, the doctors told me that I would be unable to move my neck in any form and that's why they were sure I would never fight again. I knew ever since I got out of Cuba I had health and could deal with life and whatever life had in store for me. And life put that test in front of me (the neck injury), and life is still testing me for it.
[His head dropped, eyes looking down, emotion surging through his words. The battle back from a serious life threatening injury and the day to day risk of training and fighting had suddenly become very present.]
YR: Every day, I know that I could die in training. Every day, I know I have to do this in order to better my daughter and my son's life. There are times we speak without knowing at what magnitude life can present these tests. And we say as fathers, as brothers, "Son, I'll give my life for you. Brother, I'll give my life for you. My daughter, I'll give my life for you." Then comes life and it gives you this test and it makes you prove it every day! That's why I love and have faith in God because I know that the time on this earth is just thatÂ…it's piece of time. Love and give your best every day to the people that you have around you.
SWD: Like a lot of fighters, you emulate the style of your coach. You have two striking coaches in Paulino Hernandez and Manolo Lopez. Manolo is a former Pan American Karate champion with a unique, elusive style of movement. You seem to have your own very unique, elusive and relaxed way of striking as well. Was that always there in your wrestling or something that came from your development as a striker?
YR: I believe that God has put me in the place that I need to be because I've got great relationships with all my trainers. They are incredible trainers and wonderful people. Unlike other trainers, my current team has not tried to restrict my natural movements from wrestling. But I do see how Manolo moves and I do try and imitate his movements. I try and imitate each one of my coaches, but with my style of wrestling, it does become easy.
SWD: Joe Rogan has called you the best wrestler in MMA. Yet, you seldom use it as you're go-to method or game plan. Why is that?
YR: First off, thank you to Joe Rogan. But it's MMA, not wrestling! In combat, if you have the opportunity to wrestle, you wrestle. If you have the opportunity to do Muay Thai, then it's Muay Thai. If in the middle of combat, you have to do tricks, then you do tricks. As long as you're within the ethics of the sport, then do it. But for me to declare that I'm the best wrestler in MMA would be arrogant. There is no Superman. Those are gifts that God gives. In the word of God, it says it real clear. Those that have the gift, use it for you shall receive more. And those that have and don't use will have it taken from them. If I have the gift of being the best wrestler, it comes from God. He is the best wrestler.
SWD: You carry an enormous amount of muscle on a 5'10" frame. Is there a disadvantage to that? For example, it seemed as if you tired in the second round against Tim Kennedy?
YR: No! I never had and never will have problems with my musculature. Even in the last 10 seconds, I was still going at it. If Tim hadn't have grabbed my glove, I would not have hit him the way that I did. I've finished strong in the 3rd round. A lot of people talk about that I don't have gas. Who has that problem, me or my opponents that don't make it?
SWD: Let's talk about Loyoto Machida. This will be the biggest name you fought and a guys who's known as a counter striker. I would describe you as a counter striker as well. How does he match up to you?
YR: I see a fight that's going to make the fans very happy. In the new breed of fighters, this man Lyoto Machida is one of the great ones. He will be a legend in this sport.
SWD: He suffered a bad beatdown in his last fight at the hands of Luke Rockhold. Did you see anything in that fight that you feel you can use to your advantage?
YR: Not every day is the same. Not every evening is the same. That (loss) does not change your name. That does not change your place in history. Maybe he didn't have a glamorous night against Rockhold, but before that night (even though he lost), he had an incredible performance against Chris Weidman. You can't expect him to have the same type of performance he did against Weidman or that he'll look like he did against Rockhold. Only expect to have Machida in front of you and know that you are facing a legend in this generation of MMA fighters.
SWD: One of the things that the cage side announcer and sports writers say about you is that at 38 years old, your window of opportunity to win UFC Gold is short.
YR: In the eyes of man, it is true. The one who allots the time to the allotment of times is God. The one who decides when the rain falls and when it falls is God. Supposedly Abraham with his wife Sarah was not able to have children at the age of 91, but God gave him his promise. He is not a man to lie nor to give up on his promise to the son of man. The time belongs to God. He is my shield, my rock, and my strength and my hope. My time is his time. It's not my time.
SWD: Is that the reason for the name "Soldier of God"
YR: Amen.
SWD: I've watched you during sparring sessions coaching guys and girls. I've seen you after practice working with younger fighters of all levels. The passion and work ethic that you put into each person that you choose to coach is fierce. Is coaching in your future?
YR: Could be. Once again, time is of God. I don't know what he has in store for me. I would like to train and coach, but I also want to evangelize and preach. I'm here and I'll take whatever comes in the future as what God wants me to do. And if I have to do both things, then here we go.
SWD: Last question. What's your prediction for the fight?
YR: (Laughing)
SWD: Come on, man. You knew it was coming.
YR: May God protect us both from severe injuries because there are families. My prediction is that I will put forth my maximum effort. I know God will be by my side and that all the hearts of the fans be content with my performance.