Yoel Romero has the skill set to defeat anyone in the UFC’s middleweight division and possibly the world.

He won wrestling gold at the World Championships in 1999, an Olympic silver medal in 2000 and another gold at the Pan American Games in 2003. These honours are just a small selection of the numerous accolades he has accumulated over two decades.

Since his foray into mixed martial arts began he has defeated eight of 10 opponents in by way of knockout.

But Romero (9-1, 5-0 UFC) brings a different element into the Octagon with him and when he steps into the cage to face Lyoto Machida in the main event at UFC Fight Night 70 on Saturday, the Cuban says he is leaving the outcome up to his secret weapon.

“It’s in God’s hands how the fight will happen,” Romero told TSN.ca through a Spanish translator. “I don’t go in there with any specific strategy.”

There is evidence to support that statement. After all, Romero has one of the most impressive wrestling résumés in the business and continues to destroy competition with his striking.

Only one of his first five UFC bouts have made it to the judges and he has strung together five straight victories since falling as a light heavyweight to Rafael Cavalcante on a Strikeforce card in 2011.

His steady climb up the middleweight ranks has most recently gone through No. 8 Tim Kennedy (UFC 178, Sept. 2014) and former No. 15 Brad Tavares (UFC on Fox 11, April 2014).

But Romero isn’t concerned about the rankings.

Instead, his humility and trust in a higher power carries him to the next bout.

“The rankings are the rankings and the only ranking that matters is the one that God has put on me,” he said.

As it comes to positioning among 185-pounders, the No. 6 Romero is looking up at the No. 4 Machida and will be facing the most talented fighter he has matched up against in his MMA tenure.

Romero is not taking the challenge lightly as he prepares for a man he calls “a magnificent person and an extraordinary fighter” and would find himself in the middleweight title conversation with a win.

“This is the first time I’ll be facing somebody who was a champion in the UFC,” he said, “so this is a very important step in my career.”