As expected, Yoel Romero will face Melvin Manhoef in Dublin, Ireland this September.
After announcing the news following Romero’s win against Alex Polizzi this past Friday without specifying the date, Bellator MMA confirmed the details on Monday. Romero (14-6) will face Manhoef (32-15-1, 2NC) on September 23, 2022 at the 3Arena in Dublin.
Yoel Romero is coming to Dublin!!🤯 @YoelRomeroMMA @Bellator_Europe pic.twitter.com/uhaHlaPu9D
— Ross Edmonds (@RosssEdmonds) May 9, 2022
Manhoef was Romero’s original opponent for Bellator 280 in Paris, but had to pull out of the fight due to injury. Polizzi, the #7-ranked light heavyweight in the promotion, then stepped in on short notice, only to be toyed with by “The Soldier of God” before being put away in the final second of the fight.
Romero scored multiple knockdowns in the bout, putting in his best performance in years and getting the crowd firmly behind him. The win snapped a four-fight skid dating back to his UFC days. Now, he’ll look to make it two in a row against one of the few fighters on the Bellator roster older than himself.
Melvin Manhoef is about to turn 46. Romero turned 45 at the end of last month.
Manhoef will compete for the first time since a loss to Corey Anderson in November of 2020 when he steps into the cage in Dublin. The loss snapped a modest two-fight winning streak Manhoef had put together in 2019.
The Dutch fighter is a two-time middleweight title challenger in Bellator who has competed for M-1, DREAM, Heroes, Cage Rage, K-1, Strikeforce, ONE Championship and other promotions.
