'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 His comeback win over Tim Kennedy
Romero followed his win over Starks with a further 3 victories and found himself faced with fellow StrikeForce veteran Tim Kennedy, a tough fighter with skills in all areas, and one who was coming off his biggest win to date, over perennial title contender Michael Bisping. The fight promised to be a barnburner, and sure enough, it lived up to the hype in every possible way.
A close first round saw Romero get the better of the striking exchanges, leaving Kennedy bloodied up, but the Cuban appeared to tire somewhat in the second round and with seconds to go, Kennedy was able to land some clean punches that had ‘Soldier of God’ badly hurt. He staggered backwards, barely able to stand – and in the end, the buzzer saved him.
Controversy then ensued between rounds; in an incident that would become better known as ‘Stoolgate’, Romero took longer than the allotted 1 minute rest period on his stool – but referee John McCarthy allowed him to continue, and he stunned everyone by coming out of his corner ready to kill. Kennedy was caught unaware with a crushing right hand, and when he got back to his feet, Romero followed up with more huge punches that put him down for good – giving the Cuban his biggest win to that point.
