LAS VEGAS – There’s typically plenty to roll eyes at or be critical of in the MMA space, but sometimes a feel-good moment can make even the most jaded of fans crack a smile.
That may happen in the case of Cortavious Romious, who Tuesday won a UFC contract after a hard-fought win on Dana White’s Contender Series. Romious (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) outworked Michael Imperato with a trio of 30-27 scores in their bantamweight fight on the show, and now his next fight will be for the world’s biggest MMA promotion.
It’s also where he’s likely to make the most amount of money as a rookie – and it sounds like that will come in handy.
“I’ve been broke since I’ve been doing this,” Romious told media members, including MMA Junkie, after his win at the UFC Apex. “Honestly, I’m so used to it that I’m not bothered by it. I remember coming up to Milwaukee. I was on the Contender Series last year. I got fired before the fight. I was getting ready to lose my apartment and I lost my car. I was down bad, man. I moved to Milwaukee. I dropped everything and just moved to Milwaukee. Now I can buy me a bed. I don’t got to sleep on the floor. … I can buy me a mattress. It feels good.”
Romious fought Ramon Tavares on DWCS in October 2023, but was taken out in just 29 seconds. Tavares made his official UFC debut earlier this year and won a split decision, though he missed weight.
But Romious’ redemption moment came from getting another shot at the UFC by way of the series after a 50-second armbar win a few months ago. He also knows that at 30, the clock only is ticking if he lets it.
“Age ain’t nothing but a number,” Romious said. “You can do anything you set your mind to. You work hard, it’ll pay off. You’ve got to believe it. If you don’t believe in it, you’re wasting your own time. So don’t really depend on nobody else – you’ve got to depend on yourself if you want it bad enough. Then you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get what you want to be at in life. It motivates me: ‘I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to do better.’ It just keeps me motivated, honest.”
After the mattress purchase, though, Romious has another luxury in mind with what he’ll be able to do with the win and a UFC contract.
“Cheesecake. I want some cheesecake.”
He’s getting the bed. Maybe now he needs a dessert sponsor. Eli’s? Junior’s? The famed Cheesecake Factory? Now he’s got options.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 68.
