Tag: Bellator 297

Bellator 297 live and official results, video stream from Chicago

Bellator 297 takes place Friday in Chicago with two title fights. Join us for a live video stream and official results at 6 p.m. ET.

CHICAGO – Bellator 297 takes place Friday, and you can join us for a live video stream and official results beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).

The event takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, light heavymweight champion Vadim Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) takes on challenger Yoel Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). In the co-feature, featherweight champ and former lightweight titleholder Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) chases history and a belt in a third division when he drops to bantamweight to take on Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), who is returning from a lengthy injury layoff.

Check out full Bellator 297 results, fight information, highlights and more below.

Twitter reacts to Sergio Pettis’ title defense vs Patricio Freire at Bellator 297

The MMA community praised Sergio Pettis after he shut down Patricio Freire’s bid at history at Bellator 297.

[autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] rejected [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]’s bid at history on Friday when he defended his bantamweight belt in the Bellator 297 co-headliner.

Pettis (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) returned from an 18-month hiatus due to injury and registered his first title defense courtesy of a lopsided victory over Freire (35-6 MMA, 22-6 BMMA), who was unsuccessful in his attempt to capture a third Bellator belt at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Pettis’ victory over Freire at Bellator 297.

[lawrence-related id=2651197]

* * * *

Bellator 297 results: Corey Anderson edges Phil Davis by split decision, calls for title shot

Corey Anderson wants another shot at the light heavyweight title after beating Phil Davis by split decision at Bellator 297.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] strengthened his case for another potential title shot when he defeated [autotag]Phil Davis[/autotag] on Friday at Bellator 297.

Anderson (17-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) defeated fellow former UFC veteran and ex-Bellator light heavyweight champion Davis (24-7 MMA, 11-4 BMMA) by split decision at the event, which took place at Wintrust Arena. The scorecard from the judges were 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28. Chris Lee was the deciding judge in Anderson’s favor.

[lawrence-related id=2651381]

Neither fighter hesitated test the grappling prowess of the other in the first round. Anderson and Davis tangled early and often, with both men shooting, defending, reversing and more. They traded punches in between grappling attempts, but it was very even with neither side achieving a big advantage.

The clinch grappling and scrambles continued into the second, but the length of the striking exchanges continued. Anderson landed more of the cleaner, more consistent strikes through the frame, but Davis, who appeared more fatigued, held his own.

The pace of the fight slowed through the final round. Anderson worked behind his jab and straight punches, while Davis tried to counter. Neither man could connect with a fight-altering shot over the final five minutes, and ultimately the three judges cageside rewarded Anderson for his work.

After falling short against champion Vadim Nemkov in a two-fight series to conclude the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix, Anderson rebounded and wants another crack at 205-pound gold.

“You already know what I want,” Anderson said in his post-fight interview with John McCarthy. “There’s only one thing I’m here for. … We want that strap.”

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 297 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 results: Gokhan Saricam spoils Chicago homecoming for Daniel James

Minutes after a deafening cheer, the boos rained down in Chicago following the conclusion of Gokhan Saricam vs. Daniel James.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] received a hero’s welcome on his way to the cage Friday at Wintrust Arena, but it was [autotag]Gokhan Saricam[/autotag] who walked away with a smile

On the Bellator 297 main card, Saricam (8-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) defeated James (15-7-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) with a wrestle-heavy game plan, much to the displeasure of those in attendance.

[lawrence-related id=2651381]

After a few big exchanges in the opening round, Saricam planted an aggressive James to the canvas and remained heavy on top. The fighters got up with both pressing the other against the fence.

The two visuals of cage-pushing and Saricam on top on the ground repeated throughout the bout. In Round 3, James mustered up the most success he found in the fight, as he pressed Saricam and threatened a front choke. But it was too little too late.

The boos rained down upon the final bell and Saricam was declared the victory in enemy territory.

James, 41, rode a five-fight winning streak into the contest that included back-to-back victories over Tyrell Fortune and Marcelo Golm.

Saricam, 32, gets back on track after a unanimous decision loss to Oleg Popov in February.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 297 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 video: Ramazan Kuramagomedov blasts Jaleel Willis with pinpoint knee for KO

The Bellator 297 prelims saw some nasty violence as Ramazan Kuramagomedov landed a brutal knee knockout in his debut.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Ramazan Kuramagomedov[/autotag] has officially arrived in Bellator.

After being at top of the international welterweight talent prospect pool for years, Kuramagomedov (11-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) finally made his promotional debut in style Friday at Winstar Arena when he knocked out [autotag]Jaleel Willis[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) at 1:24 of Round 1.

[lawrence-related id=2651381]

The finish began with a beautifully brutal and perfectly-timed knee in the clinch. When Kuramagomedov landed, Willis crashed to the canvas. Kuramagomedov pounded away until referee Rob Madrigal intervened.

Kuramagomedov, 26, preserves his perfect record with his second career knockout. On the flip side of the equation, Willis has now lost three of his most recent four.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 297 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 video: Norbert Novenyi comes out with hands down, flattens opponent with brutal KO

At Bellator 297, Norbert Novenyi, a 23-year-old prospect, came in with his hands down and promptly flattened his opponent.

CHICAGO – [autotag]Norbert Novenyi[/autotag] may just have had an all-time Bellator performance Friday at Wintrust Arena.

At Bellator 297, the 23-year-old Novenyi (7-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) finished [autotag]Kamil Oniszczuk[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) and sent the crowd into a frenzy without a knockout 46 seconds into the fight.

[lawrence-related id=2651381]

Novenyi came out with his hands down in full karate stance and hurled oddly-angled strikes toward Oniszczuk. A big right hand flattened Oniszczuk, who toppled over backward. While initially still there, Oniszczuk was put out with follow-up shots.

Pegged by many as one of the best prospects in all of Bellator, Novenyi turned heads once again with his second career knockout and his sixth career finish overall.

Heading into the fight, MMA Junkie released a mini-documentary entitled “‘On His Way to Greatness’: Norbert the Shootfighter,” which can be viewed above.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 297 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 video: Ben Askren protege Jordan Newman cranks Americana for nasty submission

At Bellator 297, Ben Askren protege Jordan Newman once again impressed as he made quick work of Matthew Perry (not the one from “Friends”).

CHICAGO – [autotag]Jordan Newman[/autotag] keeps rolling.

At Bellator 297, Newman (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) made quick work of opponent [autotag]Matthew Perry[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) when he submitted “The Care Bear” with a nasty Americana at 4:20 of Round 1. The event took place Friday at Wintrust Arena.

[lawrence-related id=2651381]

Newman, 27, is a protege of former UFC fighter and Bellator champion Ben Askren. He trains out of Roufusport in Milwaukee under Duke Roufus.

A Division III All-American at The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Newman once again showed his grappling prowess when he took down Perry after a few striking exchanges.

Once on top, Newman was in complete control. He remained heavy and brutalized Perry with ground-and-pound shots. Eventually, Perry faced up with Newman in mount. Newman grabbed hold of an Americana, cranked, and got the submission.

Newman remains undefeated as a professional and balances out his resume with his second career submission, which compliments two knockouts and two decisions.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 297 results include:

  • Jordan Newman def. Matthew Perry via submission (Americana) – Round 1, 4:20
  • Cody Law def. Edwin Chavez via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

40 years in the making: Behind the scenes at Daniel James’ Wrigley Field first pitch before Bellator 297

After more than 40 years as a Chicagoan, Daniel James finally went inside one of the city’s most iconic landmarks before Bellator 297.

CHICAGO – After more than 40 years as a Chicagoan, [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] finally went inside one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

James, a Bellator heavyweight, never had been to Wrigley Field, the longtime home of the Chicago Cubs and a historic ballpark that is more than 100 years old. But Wednesday, he made his first visit – and threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

That’s not too shabby for a Wrigley debut.

Friday, James (15-6-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) fights Gokhan Saricam (8-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) to open the main card at Bellator 297 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie. A win for James could have him in position to challenge for the heavyweight title his next time out.

Ahead of the fight, take a journey with James from the Chicago Loop to Wrigley Field for his first pitch in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 discussion thread

Bellator 297 takes place Friday in Chicago, and you can discuss the event at the MMA Junkie Forums.

CHICAGO – Bellator 297 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. It kicks off at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT). You can discuss the event at the MMA Junkie Forums.

Be sure to follow along with the latest card updates in our Bellator 297 live results post, and then discuss the event in the Forums, linked above.

Round-by-round updates and official results begin at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the preliminary card on MMA Junkie and 9 p.m. ET for the main card on Showtime.

Alex Polizzi details road from gnarly double-broken jaw against Yoel Romero to Bellator 297 return

Yoel Romero packs a punch as Alex Polizzi found out when they fought each other in Bellator.

CHICAGO – Many MMA fighters don’t have it easy, but [autotag]Alex Polizzi[/autotag] had next-level misfortune when he stepped into the cage against [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] in 2022.

Polizzi (10-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has not competed in 13 months, but Friday steps back in the cage at Bellator 297 against Karl Moore (11-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA). The past year for Polizzi has been filled with adversity and change. He suffered a badly-broken jaw against Romero, but learned many lessons in recovery.

“I was laid off for a little bit with six months of no contact with a broken jaw,” Polizzi told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Thursday. “We really took a step back to the drawing board and worked a lot of pad work, mitt work. But also a little bit earlier when I was unable to really work out at all, I made sure to get what was going on in my head right.

“I saw a mental performance coach who was able to go through some techniques about how to not only get ready, get my mind right to get back into things, but tools going forward to work on the mental side of things, as well. I think that’s been really super important and something that I hadn’t really put a lot of time into before… something that before this injury, this broken jaw that I think wouldn’t have done before.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeAUDtorp0a/

In addition to the injury and mental improvement, Polizzi added more seasoning to his game. He switched gyms and moved across the country from Wisconsin to Nevada. Polizzi now trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

“There was a life-changing event,” Polizzi said. “My wife finished school and we were looking at new places to go. We had a couple different ideas about cities to travel to. On the list was Las Vegas and she said, ‘Hey Alex, how was Las Vegas for MMA?’ We said, ‘Yeah, I could probably make that one work.’ We made the move to Vegas and of course, if you’re in Vegas there’s really just the one gym option. It’s Xtreme and that’s where you’re going to get good work in with everybody.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.