The Bellator 297 fight card is now complete with the addition of six new bouts, including a highly anticipated matchup between former title challenger Austin Vanderford and undefeated fighter Imamshafi Aliev. The blockbuster event is set to take place on Friday, June 16 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, featuring top-tier MMA talent such as Nemkov, Romero, Pettis, and Pitbull. Read on for all the details on this exciting event.
On June 16, 2023, Bellator MMA will present an exciting night of fights with Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero. The event will take place at a yet-to-be-determined location and will feature a stacked card with some of the best fighters in the world.
Yoel Romero vs Vadim Nemkov
In the main event of the evening, Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion Vadim Nemkov (16-2) will defend his title against former UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero (15-6). Nemkov, who is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, has won eight straight fights, including victories over Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, and Liam McGeary. Romero, is known for his explosive power and knockout ability, and will be looking to make a statement.
Sergio Pettis vs Patricio “Pitbull”
In the co-main event, Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Sergio Pettis (22-5) will take on Bellator Featherweight World Champion Patricio “Pitbull” (35-5) in a champion vs. champion matchup. Pettis, the younger brother of former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis, won the Bellator title in 2022 with a unanimous decision victory over Juan Archuleta. Pitbull, who is widely considered one of the best fighters in Bellator history, is coming off a TKO victory over Pedro Carvalho in his last fight.
The rest of the main card will feature a number of exciting matchups, including a battle between top light heavyweight contenders Corey Anderson (16-6) and Phil Davis (24-6), as well as a heavyweight bout between Daniel James (15-6-1) and Gokhan Saricam (8-2).
Here is the complete fight card for Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero, including the preliminary card:
MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Showtime)
| Division | Fighter 1 | Fighter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| LHW | (c) Vadim Nemkov (16-2) | #3 Yoel Romero (15-6) |
| BW | (c) Sergio Pettis (22-5) | (c) Patricio Pitbull (35-5) |
| LHW | #1 Corey Anderson (16-6) | #2 Phil Davis (24-6) |
| HW | #4 Daniel James (15-6-1) | #10 Gokhan Saricam (8-2) |
PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Bellator MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, and Pluto TV)
| Division | Fighter 1 | Fighter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| WW | Kyle Crutchmer (9-2) | Bobby Nash (12-4) |
| MW | #5 Austin Vanderford (11-2) | Imamshafi Aliev (9-0) |
| LW | #9 Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-1) | Pieter Buist (17-6) |
| BW | #7 Leandro Higo (21-6) | Nikita Mikhailov (10- |
