Alexandr Romanov Bio
Alexandr Romanov (born December 11, 1990) is a Moldovan professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). Known by the ring name “King Kong,” Romanov has also fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and currently competes in Real American Freestyle (RAF). He is recognized for his grappling-heavy style and his background in international freestyle wrestling.
Standing 188 cm tall with a 191 cm reach, Romanov has built a professional mixed martial arts record of 19 wins and 4 losses across 24 bouts. He trains out of Rising Tide Academy under long-time coach Chelsea Edward and also works with Adeboy Kechin. His career has spanned promotions in his native Moldova, the UFC, and the PFL.
Early Life and Background
Alexandr Romanov was born on December 11, 1990, in Comrat, then part of the SSR Moldova in the Soviet Union. He was raised in Moldova by a Russian father and a Ukrainian mother, growing up in a multi-cultural household that shaped his early worldview. Comrat, the capital of the Gagauzia region, remains his home base, and he continues to reside there.
Romanov began training in freestyle wrestling at the age of seven, and the sport quickly became the foundation of his athletic identity. He went on to study at the law faculty of Comrat State University and also attended the pedagogical faculty of the Chișinău Sport Institute. His early wrestling career included four Moldovan World Teams, with two appearances at the senior level and two at the junior level, as well as eight European Teams across senior and age-group competitions.
Path to MMA
After his wrestling career, Romanov transitioned into mixed martial arts with the help of Muay Thai coach Chelsea Edward, who introduced him to the sport. Edward brought Romanov into MMA and has remained his coach throughout his professional career. This partnership provided the technical striking base that complemented his existing grappling pedigree.
Romanov also competed briefly in sumo, where he earned a silver medal at the OPEN European Cup in 2016. He is a two-time UWW grappling European bronze medalist and won a bronze medal at the 2016 World University Championships. His last wrestling appearance came at the 2020 European Wrestling Championships, where he placed twelfth.
Alexandr Romanov Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Romanov compiled an undefeated 11-0 record while competing in his native Moldova, primarily at Eagles Fighting Championship, where he captured the heavyweight title. His early career showcased his grappling dominance and finishing ability, establishing him as one of Moldova’s top heavyweight prospects. He began his professional MMA career in 2016 and continued to build his resume in regional competition for several years.
During this developmental period, Romanov also earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, further expanding his submission arsenal. His combination of freestyle wrestling credentials and submission grappling made him a unique prospect in the heavyweight division.
UFC Career (2020–2024)
Romanov signed with the UFC on October 3, 2019, and was initially scheduled to debut against Raphael Pessoa in April 2020. However, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a subsequent bout with Marcin Tybura at UFC 251 was scrapped after Romanov tested positive for COVID-19. He eventually made his UFC debut on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill, defeating Roque Martinez via arm-triangle choke in the second round.
His follow-up performance came on November 7, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira, where he defeated Marcos Rogério de Lima with the first forearm choke in UFC history, earning Performance of the Night honors. Romanov continued his unbeaten UFC run with a technical split decision victory over Juan Espino in April 2021 and a second-round TKO of Jared Vanderaa in October 2021. He also earned a first-round keylock submission victory over Chase Sherman at UFC on ESPN 35.
Romanov’s first UFC loss came on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278, where he dropped a controversial majority decision to Marcin Tybura, with 17 of 18 media outlets scoring the bout as a draw. He then suffered a first-round TKO loss to Alexander Volkov in March 2023 before rebounding with a unanimous decision win over Blagoy Ivanov in July 2023. His final UFC bout resulted in a first-round rear-naked choke loss to Jailton Almeida at UFC 302 in June 2024, marking his first submission defeat. He closed his UFC tenure with a unanimous decision win over Rodrigo Nascimento on November 2, 2024. Despite the recent victory, Romanov’s UFC contract was not renewed, and he was removed from the roster on November 5, 2024.
Professional Fighters League (2025–Present)
On January 27, 2025, Romanov announced via Instagram that he had signed with the Professional Fighters League. The promotion officially confirmed on March 5, 2025, that he would join the 2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament. In the quarterfinal at PFL 4 on May 1, 2025, Romanov defeated Timothy Johnson via first-round guillotine choke submission.
His semifinal bout against Valentin Moldavsky at PFL 7 on June 27, 2025, ended in a no contest after an accidental groin strike left Romanov unable to continue, with the judges advancing him to the final. In the championship bout at PFL 10 on August 21, 2025, Romanov faced Oleg Popov and lost via split decision, finishing as the tournament runner-up.
Driving Style and Strengths
Romanov fights from a wrestling-heavy stance and relies on his top control, positional grappling, and submission threats to dictate outcomes. His 191 cm reach and finishing instincts have produced a string of submissions and ground-and-pound stoppages, though his recent decision losses have highlighted areas for development in his striking defense and cardio management.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Romanov’s signature moments is his submission of Marcos Rogério de Lima with the first forearm choke in UFC history, a finish that earned him Performance of the Night honors. His undefeated 11-0 run in regional competition and his advancement to the 2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament final stand as defining achievements in his career.
Alexandr Romanov Career Wins
Across his professional career, Alexandr Romanov has accumulated 19 wins in 24 total bouts, with finishes coming by knockout, submission, decision, and disqualification. His victories span promotions in Moldova, the UFC, the PFL, and grappling events such as Fury Pro Grappling.
UFC Highlights
Romanov’s UFC tenure included notable finishes over Roque Martinez, Marcos Rogério de Lima, Jared Vanderaa, Chase Sherman, Blagoy Ivanov, and Rodrigo Nascimento. His first UFC victory came via arm-triangle choke in September 2020, and his landmark submission of Lima with a forearm choke remains a historic first in the promotion.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Romanov captured the Eagles Fighting Championship heavyweight title during his 11-0 run in Moldova. In professional grappling, he defeated Chris Daukaus by decision at Fury Pro Grappling 8 in December 2023 and submitted Dymere Rappa with a north-south choke at Fury Pro Grappling 12 in December 2024.
Alexandr Romanov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Alexandr Romanov was born to a Russian father and a Ukrainian mother and raised in Comrat, Moldova. While his family background is not extensively documented, his parents’ multi-cultural heritage shaped his upbringing in the Gagauzia region of Moldova.
Personal Life
Romanov and his wife have three children. He resides in Comrat, Moldova, and continues to represent his home country in international competition. He is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
2025 Season Performance
Alexandr Romanov’s 2025 campaign was defined by his transition from the UFC to the Professional Fighters League. After his UFC contract was not renewed in late 2024, he signed with the PFL in January 2025 and entered the 2025 PFL Heavyweight Tournament as a top seed. His first-round guillotine choke submission of Timothy Johnson in the quarterfinals signaled an immediate impact in the promotion.
His semifinal result against Valentin Moldavsky was decided by an unfortunate groin strike that ended the bout in a no contest, yet advanced Romanov to the championship final. In the tournament final at PFL 10 in August 2025, Romanov dropped a split decision to Oleg Popov, finishing as the runner-up in the heavyweight bracket.
Looking ahead, Romanov continues to compete in the Heavyweight division of Real American Freestyle, where he faced Mason Parris in the main event of RAF 02. His 2025 schedule reflects a busy year across multiple high-profile promotions, positioning him for continued relevance in the global heavyweight scene.