No Thanks! Russian Boxer Defeats Yoel Romero, Calls Out Jones To His Face
· Yahoo Sports
Russian veteran Vagab Vagabov just handed Yoel Romero the first bare knuckle loss of his career.
The two threw down just moments ago as the main event of IBA Bare Knuckle 4, which is the same promotion that Jon Jones now represents as an ambassador. The Vagabov vs. Romero fight lasted the full five two-minute rounds and was quite competitive. Though it was marked by periods of inactivity, Vagabov landed some heavy shots and bruised up the 48-year-0ld Romero’s face, resulting in the decision victory.
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Yoel Romero loses to Vagab Vagabov via unanimous judges’ decision at IBA Bare Knuckle 😬🔥 #IBAbareknuckle#MMApic.twitter.com/m8MMCWwC6v
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) March 28, 2026
Vagabov may not be a household name, but he’s been in the game for a very long time. At age 40, Vagabov holds a professional MMA record of 30-1-1, competing for promotions like M-1 Global and Fight Nights Global, as well as a brief stint in the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). More recently, he’s been competing in various forms of striking, with and without gloves.
Former UFC champion Jon Jones was in attendance for the bout and entered the cage afterward to offer his thoughts on the main event. Vagabov took the opportunity to shoot his shot, calling out Jones for a bare knuckle boxing match while standing opposite the semi-retired great.
Jon Jones just got called out by a bare knuckle fighter after he beat Yoel Romero 😂
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 28, 2026
“I would love to fight bare knuckle, but not these two animals. No, no, no, no. I’m good.” pic.twitter.com/PF1HaWAcxC
Jones respectfully declined the invitation. “I would love to fight bare knuckle,” Jones said with a laugh. “But not these two animals. No, no, no, I’m good.”
Unfortunately for Jones, he’s in the midst of some contract drama with the UFC and definitely isn’t allowed to fight anywhere else. “Bones” desperately wanted to compete at the UFC White House card, but the promotion refused to agree to his financial terms and didn’t seem particularly opening to negotiating. Worse still, UFC CEO Dana White declared Jones was never in consideration and essentially sent him back to retirement in his public statements.
While that situation unfolds, at least Jones can bide his time completing lucrative Russian side quests.