Yoel Romero faces Alex Nicholson after Hector Lombard pulls out
Hector Lombard pulled out of Friday’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 10 headliner against Yoel Romero, and Alex Nicholson will step in on short notice to face the 48-year-old Cuban at heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight.
Lombard blamed the withdrawal on a lack of preparation time. “I didn’t have enough time. Maybe a week and a half of training — I most respect the game,” Lombard said on Instagram, per MMA Mania. “For many years I haven’t respected the game, but I gotta respect the game from now on. I need the proper training and proper time…I must be prepared.” Jorge Masvidal confirmed the switch on social media. Sherdog was first to report the change.
Romero’s recent combat sports run
Romero has not fought under standard MMA rules since stopping Thiago Santos at the PFL versus Bellator card in February 2024. He dropped a contested decision to Vagab Vagabov at IBA Bare Knuckle 4 in Russia on March 28, according to MMA Mania. He has notched knockout wins in Dirty Boxing and competed in BKFC during a busy stretch across multiple disciplines.
Nicholson is 3-2 under the Gamebred Bareknuckle banner. The 35-year-old knocked out Zac Pauga in September 2024 but has lost back-to-back bouts since, getting stopped by Chase Sherman and Frank Tate. Lombard last competed for Gamebred in 2023, finishing Chris Sarro in round one. He went 3-1 in BKFC before suffering a 19-second knockout loss to James Cannon at DBX 3.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 10 streams free on YouTube from Unrivaled Arena in Miami. Prelims begin at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card at 9 p.m. ET. Luis Palomino versus Darrell Horcher serves as the lightweight co-main event.
Original reporting:
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