Legendary Cuban fighter Yoel Romero will face Russia’s Vagab Vagabov in the main event of IBA Bare Knuckle 4, scheduled for March 28 at the KSK Arena in St. Petersburg. The bout will take place under bare-knuckle competition rules and is scheduled for five rounds of two minutes.

Romero, a former three-time UFC middleweight title challenger and one of the most recognizable fighters of his generation, continues his combat sports journey in IBA Bare-knuckle competition. The 48-year-old Cuban has competed in multiple promotions after leaving the UFC and Bellator, including Dirty Boxing and BKFC, where he recorded dominant finishes. Over the course of his MMA career, Romero compiled a record of 16 wins in 23 fights. 

His opponent, Vagab Vagabov, enters the fight with strong momentum. The Russian fighter holds a professional record of 24 wins, one loss and one draw, and most recently scored a first-round knockout victory at RCC Fair Fight earlier this year. 

Championship revenge fight in the co-main event

The co-main event will feature a championship rematch between Timur Musaev (“Zolotoy”) and Iskandar Ziyaev (“Chef”). Musaev, the reigning HFC champion with a professional record of 17-1-1, will look to avenge one of the most notable defeats of his career.

The two fighters first met in February 2021 at TOP DOG FC 7, where Ziyaev knocked Musaev out in the first round in a highly discussed bout. Their second meeting now carries even greater stakes, with the championship belt on the line. 

Grudge fights and cross-league clashes on the card

Beyond the two headline fights, the event features several matchups with their own storylines. One of the most anticipated bouts will see Marat Isaev face Alexander Khoronzhenko, a clash expected to bring calculated strategy against relentless pressure. Another intriguing matchup will settle a long-running rivalry between Usman “Strannik” Magomedov and Anatoly “Siberian Conor” Nadratovsky.

In a cross-promotion showdown, Vitaliy “Ancient” Starykh, a TOP DOG title contender, will take on HFC champion Abubakar “Cross” Suleimanov. Fans will also see a regional rivalry between Eduard “Teddy” Kuzminov (Moscow) and Danila “Gatti” Chizhov (St. Petersburg).

The international lineup will feature fighters from several countries, including Iran, Spain, and Cuba, highlighting the global reach of the IBA growing bare-knuckle scene.

Jon Jones to appear as special guest

Adding further star power to the event, UFC legend Jon Jones will attend the tournament as a special guest and co-host of the evening. Jones’ participation underscores the increasing attention that IBA and indeed the bare-knuckle combat sports scene are receiving from the global MMA community.