Vadim Nemkov vs. Yoel Romero to headline Bellator 297 in Chicago on June 16

In the main event of Bellator 297, scheduled to take place on June 16 in Chicago, Vadim Nemkov will defend his light heavyweight title against Yoel Romero in a bout originally scheduled for Bellator 290. In the co-main event, Sergio Pettis will return and will defend his bantamweight belt against two-weight champion Patricio Pitbull, who wants to become a champion in the third division.

Russian fighter Vadim Nemkov (16-2, 1 NC) last fought last November in Chicago, where he defeated Corey Anderson via unanimous decision in a rematch to win the WGP and retain his belt. Pinar del Rio native Cuban Yoel Romero (15-6) from Miami won his previous fight last September in Dublin, Ireland, by a third-round knockout against Melvin Manhoff.

Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis (22-5) of Milwaukee made his first successful title defense with a fourth-round knockout against Kyoji Horiguchi back in December 2021 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Three-time Bellator featherweight champion and former lightweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” (35-5) of Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil wins a unanimous decision over Kleber Koike Erbst at Bellator MMA vs Rizin in late last year in Saitama, Japan.