Tag: Bellator 297

Yoel Romero says ‘no chance’ he’ll retire at Bellator 297, plans to fight into his 50s

At 46, Yoel Romero is confident he’s got plenty left in the tank beyond Bellator 297, enough to fight into his 50s.

Despite being one of the more senior fighters today, [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] doesn’t plan to retire any time soon.

At 46, most active MMA are retired or way past their primes. However, that’s not the case for Romero – far from it. The highly decorated Cuban wrestler is just hours away from one of the biggest fights of his career, a light heavyweight title bout against highly touted champion Vadim Nemkov.

The fight serves as the Bellator 297 main event Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

As often seen in sports, seasoned athletes take the opportunity of achieving something big to walk away while on top. That was recently displayed by Amanda Nunes after she retired as a two-division UFC champion this past Saturday at UFC 289.

Romero respects that path, but he assures fans will see more of him, even if he claims Bellator gold.

“No chance, no chance,” Romero told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked about potentially walking away as champion. “No chance, no chance at all. That doesn’t even go through my mind. I’ve got five more years in this sport. That’s what I think of. I plan on fighting until I’m 52. That’s my focus.”

Romero has told MMA Junkie in the past that he’d like to walk away at 52 just like Bernard Hopkins did in boxing, and that plan still stands.

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This title fight for Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) is, in many ways, a story of redemption. “The Soldier of God” might just be the fighter who got closest to being champion in the UFC without winning the belt.

Romero fought four times for UFC titles. Three times he lost in competitive, even controversial, decisions to Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya. The other, which was for the interim UFC middleweight belt, he actually won by knocking out Luke Rockhold, but he was ineligible to win the belt since he has missed weight by two pounds.

This fight with Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) is very important to Romero, who still dreams of championship status.

“I think it would be something very satisfactory for my team, for me, being able to win a championship belt,” Romero said. “It always is satisfactory to be able to take a belt home, knowing that you worked hard. Also, knowing the persistence, the dedication to training was well worth it. It also lets you know that if the work that you did led to you winning, then that’s the path that you need to continue on. You need to stay on that path and keep working. That’s what it would mean.”

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

Photos: Bellator 297 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the fighters on the scale at the Bellator 297 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

Check out these photos from the fighters on the scale at the Bellator 297 ceremonial weigh-ins and pre-fight fighter faceoffs at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan, Bellator MMA)

Corey Anderson explains why loss to Vadim Nemkov hurt like none other: ‘That last one was the worst’

Corey Anderson says the unanimous decision loss to Vadim Nemkov hurt the most of his career.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]’s had a tough time processing the result of his last outing.

Despite not being a stranger to adversity and defeat in the MMA game, Anderson’s (17-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) loss to Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 288 this past November hurt like none other. The light heavyweight contender will get a chance to relieve that pain this Friday on the main card of Bellator 297 in Chicago, as he takes on fellow veteran Phil Davis (24-6 MMA, 11-3 BMMA).

“I expect so much from myself no matter what,” Anderson told MMA Junkie Radio looking back at the defeat against Nemkov. “I don’t like shortcomings. Every time I lose, I take it like a grain of salt and wear it on my face like it didn’t bother me, but every loss, every mistake I make, it eats me up, and that last one was the worst.”

Yes, the loss to Nemkov was Anderson’s first title fight. There was also a $1 million prize on the line, as it was the final of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix. But what stung the most, was that it was Anderson’s first clear decision defeat – and that didn’t sit well with him.

“I can handle a finish,” Anderson said. “I don’t want to, but it’s more like, ‘I got caught. If I can avoid and keep my right hand up, I won’t get knocked out. Or if I get caught in a submission, I can get my arm back.’ There’s something you can learn from a submission, when you get caught, when you get knocked out.

“As for losing a decision, other than that Shogun fight where everyone said I won, my main thing is I’ll never be outworked. No one will ever outwork me. You see me at the gym and nobody can keep up with my pace, and that was in my head going into the fight. The way I lost, the fact that I lost by decision. I was watching it and studying film like, ‘How did I get outworked? What did I do wrong?.'”

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

Bellator 297 breakdown: Yoel Romero dangerous, but Vadim Nemkov just too good

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the Bellator 297 main event between Vadim Nemkov and Yoel Romero.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the MMA’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 297.

Bellator 297 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Scott Coker confirms Bellator looking for partner, PFL ‘definitely in the conversation’

As it stands, Bellator and PFL are rival promotions, but that could soon change, Scott Coker confirmed.

CHICAGO – The rumors just might be true.

Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed Thursday to MMA Junkie and other reporters that the promotion and parent company Viacom are exploring options for a potential business partnership. Additionally, Coker confirmed that rival promotion PFL is one of the companies in discussion.

“We’ve been out there,” Coker said following Bellator 297 ceremonial faceoffs. “Bellator has been looking to take a partner. That’s really been Viacom that’s been handling that. So we’ll see where that nets out. We’ll probably have some clarity in the next 60 to 90 days.”

“… (PFL) is definitely in the conversation. There’s a couple conversations going on right now with Viacom and other companies. PFL is definitely one of them.”

There’s been much buzz about a potential sale and/or merger in recent months since a YouTube video posted by The Todd Atkins Show surfaced on social media. But Thursday was the first time Coker or anyone from Bellator confirmed some truth to it. UFC president Dana White recently mentioned he’d heard of the potential sale, too, during a post-fight news conference after one of his events.

Coker declined to go into further detail, saying a deal would have to be figured out first.

“Let’s just wait to see what happens,” Coker said. “It could go a lot of different ways.”‘

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

Bellator 297 predictions: Who’s picking upsets in the two title fights in Chicago?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 297 main card in Chicago.

Nemkov
vs.
Romero		 Pettis
vs.
Freire		 Anderson
vs.
Davis		 James
vs.
Saricam
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
89-55		 nemkov2023
Nemkov
(61%)		 freire2023
Freire
(60%)		 anderson2023
Anderson
(55%)		 james2023
James
(63%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
94-50		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 davis2023
Davis		 james2023
James
Nolan King
@mma_kings
91-53		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
90-54		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 pettis2023
Pettis		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
90-54		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
87-57		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
85-59
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
-84-60
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 davis2023
Davis		 saricam2023
Saricam
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
83-61		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
81-63		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
79-65
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 nemkov2023
Nemkov		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
78-66		 romero2023
Romero		 freire2023
Freire		 anderson2023
Anderson		 james2023
James

Bellator is back in the “Windy City” this week with a pair of title fights at the top of the card.

Bellator 297 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) puts his title on the line against Yoel Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). Nemkov is a heavy favorite of more than 6-1 at some online sportsbooks, and he is a near unanimous pick from our 11 editors, writers and videographers at 10-1.

In the co-feature, Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) puts his bantamweight title up for grabs against featherweight champ Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA), who also is a former lightweight titleholder. A win would make him the first three-division champion in Bellator history and would have him as a dual champ once again. “Pitbull” Freire is a 2-1 favorite and a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

Corey Anderson (17-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) nearly is a 2-1 favorite against former light heavyweight champ Phil Davis (24-6 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) and he has a big 9-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, even though he’s a slight underdog, heavyweight contender and Chicago native Daniel James (15-6-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has a massive 10-1 picks lead on Gokhan Saricam (8-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

Check out all the picks above.

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

Bellator 297 ceremonial faceoffs video: Title combatants keep it intense but respectful

Watch the 30 fighters competing at Bellator 297 come face-to-face with their opponents for the final time ahead of the fights.

CHICAGO – Bellator 297 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena and the fighters came face-to-face Thursday for the final time before they throw down in the cage.

Main event combatants [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) had a respectful faceoff. Nemkov seeks his fourth title defense while Romero challenges for a Bellator title for the first time.

A highly-anticipated co-main event super-fight produced an intense faceoff as bantamweight champion [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) and [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA) stared each other down.

The fight marks Pettis’ first in 14 months since a serious knee injury. For Freire, the bout is his first at bantamweight and an opportunity for him to capture Bellator gold in a third weight division.

The full Bellator 297 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Showtime (9 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero – for light heavyweight title
  • Champ Sergio Pettis vs. Patricio Freire – for bantamweight title
  • Corey Anderson vs. Phil Davis
  • Daniel James vs. Gokhan Saricam

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Wladmir Gouvea vs. Gabriel Sayeg
  • Kyle Crutchmer vs. Bobby Nash
  • Pieter Buist vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov
  • Ramazan Kuramagomedov vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Mike Hamel vs. Shamil Nikaev
  • Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Kamil Oniszczuk
  • Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
  • Karl Moore vs. Alex Polizzi
  • Timur Khizriev vs. Richie Smullen
  • Jordan Newman vs. Matthew Perry
  • Edwin Chavez vs. Cody Law
  • David McKinney vs. Max Metzgar

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

Daniel James’ ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field before Bellator 297: Best photos

Check out photos from Daniel James’ ceremonial first pitch at the Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game at Wrigley Field.

Check out these photos of Bellator heavyweight and Chicago native [autotag]Daniel James[/autotag] throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. James fights at Bellator 297 Friday in front of his home fans. (Photos by Matt Erickson–MMA Junkie)

Bellator 297 video: Sergio Pettis, Patricio Freire make weight, show off bantamweight physiques

Champions Sergio Pettis and Patricio Freire came in light ahead of their showdown at Bellator 297.

CHICAGO – The Bellator 297 co-main event fighters weighed in Friday at the host hotel, and things went off without a hitch.

Bantamweight champion [autotag]Sergio Pettis[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) was one of the first to weigh in and registered one pound below championship weight at 134 pounds.

All eyes then turned to [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA), who stepped on the scale as a bantamweight for the first time. Freire, too, came in light, as he weighed 134.2 and showed off his leaner than usual physique.

Freire, 35, is the current Bellator featherweight champion and a former lightweight champion under the promotion’s banner. He looks to add a third divisional title to his resume and become the first fighter in major MMA history to do so in the same promotion.

Pettis, 29, has not competed for 14 months due to a knee injury. Friday will mark his first title defense attempt as he looks to spoil a “Pitbull’s” historic feat.

Check out video of the Bellator 297 co-main event participants making weight above.

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

Bellator 297 video: Yoel Romero’s weigh-ins nudity causes funny moment, but Vadim Nemkov fight set

Legendary event coordinator Burt Watson was caught off guard by how long Yoel Romero was naked during his weigh-in for Bellator 297.

CHICAGO – The Bellator 297 main event is set.

Light heavyweight champion [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) was first to hit the scale Friday, and he made weight at 203.8 pounds.

His opponent, [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), stripped down behind a tarp and hit 205 pounds on the nose. The nudity triggered a comedic moment between Romero and legendary fight operations coordinator Burt Watson.

Nemkov, 30, has not lost in 11 fights and seeks his fourth successful title defense. Romero, 46, challenges for his first Bellator title after back-to-back wins over Alex Polizzi and Melvin Manhoef.

Check out the Bellator 297 headliners’ weigh-ins in the video above.

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