Two title fights have been inked for Bellator 297 this summer.
Vadim Nemkov will defend his light heavyweight title against Yoel Romero live on June 16 from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs live on Showtime.
In the co-main event, Sergio Pettis puts his bantamweight title on the line vs. featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull.
Nemkov, 30, proved himself the best fighter in the weight class with his resounding victory over top-ranked Corey Anderson at Bellator 288 last November. The title defense also saw Nemkov emerge victorious as the winner of the prestigious Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix in a run that also saw him best former champion Phil Davis and No. 6-ranked Julius Anglickas.
Romero has entertained fight fans for close to three decades, first as a world-renowned amateur wrestler and now as an elite mixed martial artist. The 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 1999 world champion will look to add a mixed martial arts world championship to his overflowing trophy case with a win over Nemkov. Romero scored back-to-back third-round knockout victories against highly regarded prospect Alex Polizzi and fellow combat legend Melvin Manhoef to add to his jaw-dropping highlight reel and secure a coveted title shot against the surging Nemkov.
Bellator’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound athlete and undisputed featherweight champion, Pitbull, is once again chasing history at Bellator 297 as he attempts to become the first three-division champion in a major MMA promotion. A few men and women have been able to conquer two weight classes, including Pitbull, who knocked out Michael Chandler at Bellator 221 in 2019. Pettis, the younger brother of Anthony Pettis, will compete for the first time since 2021.
SHOWTIME
Friday, June 16 — 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: C-Vadim Nemkov (16-2, 1 NC) vs. #3-Yoel Romero (15-6)
Bantamweight World Title Bout: C-Sergio Pettis (22-5) vs. C-Patricio “Pitbull” (35-5)
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