Over 17 years after winning an Olympic wrestling medal in Sydney, UFC superstar Yoel Romero has his sights set on more sporting success in Australia.
The 40-year-old Cuban fights American Luke Rockhold for the UFC interim middleweight title in Perth on February 11.
It will be Romero's first fight since losing to Australian Robert Whittaker on points for the interim title in Las Vegas last July.
Sydneysider Whittaker was upgraded to outright champion after Georges St-Pierre vacated that title and the Australian was scheduled to make his first defence against Rockhold in Perth.
But with Whittaker injured and unable to fight, No.1 contender Romero has been drafted in to fight No.2 ranked former middleweight world champion Rockhold.
It is Romero's first visit to Australia since he won a sliver medal in the 85kg freestyle wrestling event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"I'm very happy, I feel a lot of of good memories from when I came here the last time," Romero told AAP through an interpreter on Friday at the UFC gym in Sydney.
"It's almost a feeling like the first time you fall in love."
If he beats Rockhold, Romero will qualify for another crack at Whittaker.
"I learnt a lot from that fight, but a loss definitely doesn't break me," Romero said.
"You learm more about yourself and you get even better."
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