Bellator MMA have added a high-profile light heavyweight match-up to Bellator 297 in June.
On Thursday, promotion officials announced via press release that Corey Anderson (16-6-1), who has twice faced current 205lb champ Vadim Nemkov, will fight ex-champ Phil Davis (24-6, 1NC) at the event on June 16, 2023.
The card is set to take place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL, and will feature Nemkov defending his title against Yoel Romero in the main event.
Anderson saw his first title fight with Nemkov, part of the light heavyweight grand prix, end in a no contest after he landed an accidental head butt on the Russian. The rematch last November ended in a unanimous decision win for Nemkov, who retained his title and won the million dollars in prize money for claiming victory in the grand prix.
Davis, who for a time shared a home in the UFC with Anderson, has won his last two fights, against Julius Anglickas and Yoel Romero. But thanks to “Mr. Wonderful” having two prior losses to champ Nemkov, it’s Romero, not himself, fighting for gold in Chicago.
Anderson currently sits at the #1 spot in the division, while Davis occupies the #2 ranking. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine the fight as anything other than a title eliminator.
Bellator 297 also features featherweight champ Patricio Pitbull making the drop to 135lbs, where he’ll face Sergio Pettis in hopes of earning a title in a third weight class. In addition to 145lb gold, Pitbull has previously held the promotion’s lightweight title.
