Cortavious Romious Record: 9-4-0

UFC run

Romious's first Contender Series appearance in October 2023 was a brutal lesson: Ramon Taveras stopped him with a left hook and hammerfists in the opening round. Rather than fade, Romious changed camps, picked up a regional win, and returned to the Contender Series in 2024, this time grinding out a three-round unanimous decision over Michael Imperato to finally secure his UFC contract — a dream-come-true moment after the earlier collapse. His promotional run has been a steep step up in competition. In November 2024 he dropped a unanimous decision to Gaston Bolaños, then in April 2025 he was stopped in the second round by punches and elbows against the surging Chang Ho Lee.

Fighting style

Romious is a submission specialist first and foremost. Five of his nine wins have come by submission — armbars are a clear signature — with two knockouts and two decisions rounding out a high 78 percent finish rate that marks him as a genuine finisher when he gets his offense going. His ground game and aggressive top control are his calling cards, and his unusual reach helps him manage range and set up entries. The honest counterpoint is durability against elite strikers: both of his losses by stoppage came by knockout or TKO at the higher levels, with the Taveras and Lee defeats showing that opponents who can keep things standing and land cleanly remain his toughest matchups.

Career highlights

• Earned his UFC contract the hard way — bounced back from a 29-second Contender Series loss to win a return appearance and sign with the promotion.
• Submission finisher — five of nine wins by submission, with multiple first-round armbars headlining a 78 percent finish rate.
• Midwest grappling pedigree — built a 9–4 record across the regional scene with stacked jiu-jitsu credentials before reaching the UFC.