TLDR
- Yoel Romero withdrew from BKFC KnuckleMania 6 on February 7 due to a severe flu strain
- The 48-year-old blamed a weakened immune system from his recent RAF wrestling weight cut on January 10
- Romero attempted three weight cuts in three months across BKFC and RAF competitions
- BKFC pound-for-pound king David Mundell will replace Romero against Lorenzo Hunt at 199 pounds
- BKFC is already working to reschedule the Romero vs. Hunt fight for later in 2026
Sources: SI Boxing | MMA News | MMA Mania
Yoel Romero has withdrawn from his scheduled fight at BKFC KnuckleMania 6 on February 7, citing a severe strain of the flu. The 48-year-old was set to face BKFC light heavyweight champion Lorenzo Hunt in a non-title heavyweight bout in the co-main event.
The withdrawal comes just 11 days before the event in Philadelphia. Romero released an official statement explaining his condition and how it developed.
“Unfortunately I have to withdraw from my scheduled fight with Lorenzo Hunt at KM6 due to a very strong strain of the flu,” Romero said. “During my weight cut for RAF I felt my immune system was low and I was feeling very weak.”
Romero connected his illness to a recent wrestling match. He competed at RAF 5 on January 10, and flu symptoms began appearing shortly after.
“A few days after my January 10th RAF match I started to experience severe flu symptoms,” he explained. “I am extremely disappointed but I’ve been unable to train and I need to make my health a priority.”
BREAKING: Yoel Romero is out but the #1 P4P BKFC fighter David Mundell steps in to take on Lorenzo Hunt 🔥🔥🔥#KM6 | Feb 7 | Tix at https://t.co/LJX5urGkRW pic.twitter.com/pe68AVjwHM
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) January 27, 2026
Recent Wrestling Schedule Takes Its Toll
The withdrawal comes after Romero attempted three weight cuts in three months. He made his bare-knuckle debut at BKFC 80 last fall, then competed in two RAF wrestling matches.
Romero defeated Pat Downey at RAF 4 in December. At RAF 5, he missed weight for his scheduled match against UFC star Bo Nickal.
Nickal refused to compete after the weight miss and pulled out of the event. Romero faced former NCAA Division I National Champion Stephen Buchanan instead and lost the match.
The demanding schedule appears to have weakened his body’s defenses. At 48 years old, the multiple weight cuts in quick succession proved too much for his immune system.
David Mundell Steps In as Replacement
Lorenzo Hunt will remain on the card despite losing his opponent. BKFC has arranged a new co-main event that features two of the promotion’s best fighters.
David Mundell, the BKFC middleweight champion and current pound-for-pound king, will replace Romero. The bout has been changed to a 199-pound catchweight fight.
Mundell has not competed since June 2025. He defended his middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Donald Sanchez in that fight.
The matchup pits two elite fighters against each other. Hunt previously held the pound-for-pound top ranking and has won six BKFC championship fights, the second-most in promotional history.
Hunt was briefly expected to challenge then-light heavyweight champion Josh Dyer late last year. Mundell was originally slated for that fight but was replaced by Hunt.
Hunt responded to the opponent change with harsh words. “I’m pissed that Yoel Romero chickened out of the fight at the last minute,” Hunt said in a statement.
“I honestly don’t care who they put in there with me,” Hunt continued. “It’s my time. I am the best bare-knuckle fighter in the world.”
BKFC President David Feldman addressed the change. “It’s unfortunate that Yoel Romero has taken ill and is unable to compete at KnuckleMania VI,” Feldman said.
“However, Lorenzo Hunt versus David Mundell is an iconic clash between two of the very best bare-knuckle fighters in the world,” he added. “Fans should expect an explosive battle with fireworks from the opening bell.”
Romero stated that BKFC is already working to reschedule his bout with Hunt for later in 2026. Hunt has been calling for the fight since Romero signed with the promotion in mid-2025.
