Yoel Romero achieved the single biggest victory of his professional MMA career on Saturday evening in Hollywood, Florida, knocking out former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida in the third round of their main event bout at UFC Fight Night 70, however it was Romero’s post-fight comments, which you can watch above, that dominated the headlines the following morning.
Romero, who speaks Spanish as his first language, attempted to speak English during his post-fight interview inside the Octagon. In a case of language translating improperly, Romero had fans under the belief that he said something against Friday’s Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage in all 50 of the United States, however Romero insists that was not his intention.
During the UFC Fight Night 70 post-fight press conference, which you can watch below, Romero attempted to clarify the controversial comments he made inside the cage.
“I would like to apologize if there was a misunderstanding,” Romero said through an interpreter. “First of all, I am a man of God. And God is love. My expressions are always going to be about love. What I was trying to say in the Octagon was, live for the American Dream.”
Romero also insisted that he does not want to judge anyone.
“I will tell you guys something,” the middleweight contender said. “God made man to be free. Anybody can do whatever they want. I wouldn’t be the type of person to critique anybody. I have to look at myself first, and be a better person, to love people.”
“What I was trying to say was, to the United States, thank you, for giving me the American Dream,” Romero, a native of Cuba who emigrated to Florida, continued. “There is no better country, because it is blessed by God.”
