Yoel Romero explains kissing Luke Rockhold after UFC 221 win

ORLANDO, Fla. – Middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero’s kiss seen round the world sparked conversation – and more than a few memes – following UFC 221.

Romero (13-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) didn’t necessarily intend it to be that way. When he kissed Luke Rockhold (16-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on the cheek after knocking him out in the pay-per-view headliner, he was getting some justice after Rockhold acted unethically.

Former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping opined that Romero got sexual satisfaction out of the exchange and said he should have been stopped by officials from getting in Rockhold’s space. Romero disputed that notion.

“In my country, there’s a code,” Romero told reporters backstage this past Saturday at UFC on FOX 28. “When you lend a hand to another person, you don’t backstab him. Never. If there’s a situation, and you don’t want to be in trouble, just keep away from it.”

The way Romero sees it, Rockhold should have backed away when Romero was flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a potential anti-doping violation. A six-month suspension for ingesting a tainted supplement didn’t stop the former UFC champ from chiding Romero in the press.

“He was the second person who started talking, and then he actually (invited) me to hang out,” Romero said. “When we were hanging out, he asked me, ‘Do you want to fight me?’ And I told him, ‘No, that’s not the question. Do you want to fight me?’ And he said, ‘No,’ so you don’t want to fight with me, I don’t fight you.

“If you don’t want to fight me, move to another division. Or when the UFC says, ‘Do you want to fight Yoel? (You say), ‘No, I don’t want to fight Yoel.’ Call (UFC President Dana (White) and say, ‘He’s my friend, and I won’t want to.

“But you know what? if you have to fight, you need to have respect. I fought Lyoto Machida; I have a great respect for Lyoto Machida. I fought Robert Whittaker; I have a great respect for Lyoto Machida. Because they were always professional. But then when you hang out and (invite) you (to take) a cup of water or fruit or something, and then start doing math. …”

Romero admits his role in the USADA case that ended in a suspension and a huge hit to his reputation. He just isn’t about to forget the feeling about being kicked when he’s down.

So Romero took his revenge in the form of a brutal knockout. But rather than return the favor and kick Rockhold when he was down, he substituted an expression of love.

“I am clean. I came back, and now you need to pay,” Romero said. “This guy (had) no respect. He talked a lot.”

For complete coverage of UFC 221, check out the UFC Events section of the site.