Who is the 6-foot-6 monster that UFC legend Yoel Romero obliterated in Dirty Boxing? 

Former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero fought a 198 cm tall giant at BKFC star Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship.

Who is the 6-foot-6 monster that UFC legend Yoel Romero obliterated in Dirty Boxing? 

Yoel Romero defeated Ras Hylton in the main event of Dirty Boxing Championship (via Forbes/X)

UFC is undoubtedly the biggest MMA promotion in the world with most of the biggest superstars. However, over the last few years, many new combat sports promotions have started to emerge as competition. One of them recently hosted former UFC veteran Yoel Romero, who didn’t forget to put on a show for the fans. 

The Dirty Boxing Championship (DBC) is a new promotion started by former UFC fighter Mike Perry. Last night at The Hangar at Regatta Harbor in Miami, Romero headlined DBX 1: Romero vs. Hylton. He faced Ras Hylton, a 6-foot-6-inch former Cage Titans heavyweight champion. 

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Ras Hylton is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the heavyweight division. Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 260 pounds, Hylton possesses an impressive 83-inch reach. He holds a professional MMA record of 10 wins and 8 losses, with 9 victories coming by way of knockout.

Before DBC, Hylton was a part of PFL. At the age of 48, Yoel Romero initially struggled to close the distance, but was able to find his rhythm. He then delivered a decisive two-punch combination in the third round, resulting in a knockout. The Cuban fighter celebrates the win in his iconic way showing that he’s still got it.

Romero’s UFC legacy is defined by explosive power, elite wrestling, and legendary durability. A former Olympic silver medalist, he delivered iconic knockouts and fought for the middleweight title multiple times. Despite never winning gold, his wars with Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, and others cemented him as a feared, and unforgettable contender.

Rise of Dirty Boxing Championship as a competitor of UFC?

Over the years, some big promotions such as PFL, BKFC have started gaining their hold in the world of combat sports. These promotions have attracted investments from UFC veterans such as Conor McGregor, who is a co-owner of BKFC. Similarly, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has also signed up as the co-owner of Dirty Boxing Championship..

The second event of Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing Championship
The second event of Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Championship (via X)

Jones was present ringside and celebrated Yoel Romero’s victory enthusiastically. It seems like Dirty Boxing has piqued the interest of many experts, who believe that the promotion has potential in the future. It introduces a unique ruleset that permits punches, elbow strikes from the clinch, and limited ground-and-pound, all executed with 5-ounce gloves. Fights take place in an 18-foot ring, emphasizing close-quarters combat and continuous action.

On top of that, Romero’s involvement in Dirty Boxing has significantly elevated the sport’s profile. His performances have demonstrated that age is not necessarily a limiting factor in combat sports, inspiring both fans and fellow fighters. The success of DBC’s events, highlighted by Romero’s knockouts, suggests a promising future for this innovative combat sport.

 Why did Mike Perry start the Dirty Boxing Championship?

Mike Perry had an incredible momentum going in the BKFC, where he fought and defeated various ex-UFC stars such as Eddie Alvarez, Luke Rockhold and Michael ‘Venom’ Page. However, he took a break from that and challenged YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul but lost the bout. As a result, he also had a fallout with BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor on social media.

Mike Perry vs Luke Rockhold at BKFC
Mike Perry vs Luke Rockhold at BKFC (via X)

‘The Notorious’ announced that Perry was cut off from the promotion in a twist. Since then, the ‘Platinum’ has not fought a single bout. After that, Perry has shifted all his focus on Dirty Boxing and doing everything to promote it. After its initial success in November 2024, the popular BKFC fighter was highly impressed. 

I’m so proud of the fighters tonight and everything that they put on the line, the crowd was great, it was such a great show. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board, I’ve got to look at things, I’ve got to look at the whole card again – I thought the heavyweight fight was great, I would have liked to see more power-punches, maybe a different mix-up in matches.

Mike Perry via The Schmo’s YouTube channel
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Perry will soon return to the BKFC this year. There are various choices for the ex-UFC star for his return bout. However, David Feldman and McGregor have yet to reveal what else they have in store for the promotion’s violent fighter.

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