Romero apologizes for post fight ‘misunderstanding’
Yoel Romero: “What I was trying to say in the Octagon was, ‘Live for the American dream.’ There was a misunderstanding about gay marriage.”
Public exhortations of faith are often an uneasy mix with sports. We don’t ordinarily look to religious leaders to thrill us with their athletic exploits, and we don’t generally look to athletes for their erudition in communicating the divine. That is all the more true in the adrenaline dump of a main event win.
For every Carlos and Smith indelibly taking a well-planned and galvanizing stand for a deeply held ethical position, there are 50 Mike Tysons.
“There’s no one that can match me,” snarled Tyson post fight. “My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah.”
After defeating Lyoto Machida in dramatic fashion Yoel ‘Soldier of God’ Romero offered what may have been a stand against gay marriage, or may have been an attempt at reciting the lyrics to “Louie Louie.”
Whatever he said, at the post fight press conference, he apologized.
First of all, I’d like to apologize if there was a misunderstanding,” said Romero as transcribed by Tristen Critchfield for Sherdog. “I’m 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.’ There was a misunderstanding about gay marriage. I want to say something. God told Mary Magdalene, ‘You’re a prostitute. Go and don’t sin anymore.’ And he told her with love. Who am I to judge anybody? Even though I didn’t refer to that, even though there was a misunderstanding, I will tell you guys something: 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; be a better person — to be able to love people. What I was trying to say, the United States, thank you for giving me the American dream. There is no better country because it is blessed by God… This country was made by Christian people, that means it’s blessed by God.
Romero was asked if the furor around his comments meant he would not speak out again in future. The Cuban said he would not stop talking.
No, because I know what I have in my heart, he said.
Luke Rockhold has the next shot at Chris Weidman, and Romero expressed willingness to take what comes.
I’m a fighter for the best organization in the world, the UFC, he said. Whoever they give me, I’ll take.