Patricio Pitbull looked to make history at Bellator 297 on Friday, while Vadim Nemkov faced a seemingly ageless wonder with the light heavyweight title on the line.
Unquestionably, Bellator 297 was the best card among three major promotions in action over the weekend, on paper at least. And the highlight of the night, the fight many would tune in to see, was the bantamweight championship bout between Sergio Pettis, and former double champ Patricio Pitbull.
Pitbull, still holding 145lb gold in the company while a former 155lb champion, dropped to bantamweight for the opportunity to become the sport’s first triple champ. Notably, Vitor Belfort was a UFC heavyweight tournament champ, light heavyweight champ, and middleweight title challenger. But claiming three proper titles in a major organization? That had never been done.
Looking to snuff out that dream, meanwhile, was the returning Sergio Pettis, who had been forced to sit out the bantamweight grand prix due to injury. Patchy Mix was already awaiting the winner of Pettis vs. Pitbull, but who would hold gold when the grand prix winner finally got his shot?
In the main event, light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov was paired up with 46-year old Yoel Romero. “The Soldier of God” was looking at what was likely his last shot at gold, after coming up just short in the UFC on multiple occasions.
Bellator 297 takes place Friday, June 16, 2023 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. Full results can be found below. The card airs on Showtime in the U.S., and via online PPV in Canada. The preliminary card gets underway at 6PM ET.
Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero Results
Main card
Vadim Nemkov (c) def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) — for the Bellator MMA light heavyweight championship
Sergio Pettis (c) def. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) — for the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship
Corey Anderson def. Phil Davis by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Gokhan Saricam def. Daniel James by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary card
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Pieter Buist by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Jaleel Willis by KO (knee), Round 1, 1:24
Norbert Novenyi Jr. def. Kamil Oniszczuk by KO, Round 1, 0:46
Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jordan Newman def. Matthew Perry by submission (Americana), Round 1, 4:20
Cody Law def. Edwin Chavez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Post-liminary card
Wladmir Gouvea def. Gabriel Sayeg by KO (body kick and punches), Round 1, 0:20
Kyle Crutchmer def. Bobby Nash by TKO (punches), Round 1, 3:42
Mike Hamel def. Shamil Nikaev by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Karl Moore def. Alex Polizzi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Timur Khizriev def. Richie Smullen by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
