Anthony Romero did not have weeks to prepare for his UFC debut. He did not even have a full fight camp.
The 29 year old Californian has accepted a fight against No. 15 ranked Marcus McGhee on just three days’ notice, stepping into UFC 332 after Bernardo Sopaj withdrew because of an injury. The matchup will take place Saturday, October 3, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The late opportunity gives Romero a difficult introduction to the UFC, but it also puts him in the Octagon against an established contender immediately.
Anthony Romero Gets His UFC Call After a 25 Second Finish
Anthony Romero enters the UFC with a 7 – 2 professional record and a two fight winning streak. His most recent victory came in May, when he stopped his opponent in just 25 seconds, producing the fastest finish of his MMA career.
The performance helped put Romero in position for the UFC opportunity, although nobody expected his debut to arrive under these circumstances. According to his UFC profile, Romero has finished six of his seven professional victories, with four coming by knockout and two by submission. He has also recorded two finishes inside the opening minute of a fight. That finishing record is one of the biggest talking points heading into his UFC debut.
Romero trains at Black House MMA in California and has been competing professionally since December 2021. Before turning professional, he went 4 – 0 as an amateur, including three knockout victories.
A Ranked UFC Opponent Awaits
Anthony Romero’s first UFC opponent is not another newcomer. Marcus McGhee enters the contest with an 11 – 2 professional record and a 5 – 1 record inside the UFC. He returned to the win column in June with a unanimous decision victory over John Yannis. McGhee’s only UFC defeat came against current bantamweight champion Petr Yan in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Before that setback, McGhee had won his first five UFC fights, including three finishes.
The UFC currently ranks McGhee at No. 15 in the bantamweight division, giving Romero a significant challenge for his first appearance with the promotion. McGhee was originally scheduled to fight Sopaj in a bantamweight contest. With Romero accepting the fight on extremely short notice, the UFC moved the matchup to featherweight.
Romero Has Been Waiting for This Moment
Romero’s UFC profile provides some insight into what the opportunity means to him. He said fighting for the UFC was a dream he had from childhood and explained that he has dedicated much of his life to reaching this level. Romero began training at the age of 10 and has spent the last several years focused heavily on fighting and training.
His background also extends beyond striking. Romero holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu and has more than 10 years of wrestling experience. He lists the blast double as his favorite grappling technique and the check hook as his preferred striking technique.
That combination could become important against McGhee, particularly given the difference in UFC experience between the two fighters.
Short Notice Changes the Equation
The circumstances surrounding the fight make Romero’s UFC debut unusual. Instead of preparing specifically for McGhee over a full camp, Romero has had only a matter of days to make adjustments. The UFC confirmed that the fight was changed after Sopaj’s withdrawal, with Romero stepping in as the promotional newcomer. The change also means both fighters will compete outside their usual bantamweight division.
For Romero, the move to featherweight removes the immediate pressure of making the 135 pound limit, but it also introduces a different physical matchup. For McGhee, it means facing an opponent whose UFC style and tendencies he has had very little time to study.
Romero Has a Major Opportunity in Salt Lake City
The circumstances surrounding Romero’s debut could not be much bigger for a fighter entering the UFC for the first time. A victory would immediately put Romero’s name in the conversation after he accepted one of the toughest possible debut assignments. A loss, meanwhile, would come against a ranked UFC veteran after an unusually short preparation period.
Romero will have to deal with McGhee’s UFC experience while trying to impose the aggressive finishing style that has produced six stoppages in seven professional wins. The UFC has officially confirmed the fight as part of the UFC 332 preliminary card.
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