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LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA is adding six new contests to complete the lineup for its blockbuster BELLATOR 297: Nemkov vs. Romero / Pettis vs. Pitbull event Friday, June 16 event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The preliminary portion of BELLATOR 297 now features a middleweight fight between No. 5-ranked Austin Vanderford (11-2) and Dagestan’s undefeated Imamshafi Aliev (9-0), who was victorious in his promotional debut at BELLATOR 288. “The Windy City” will also see undefeated, homegrown prospect Jordan Newman (5-0) try his hand against the second-most famous Matthew Perry (5-3) in a friendly 185-pound affair.
At lightweight, Mike Hamel (10-5) quickly returns to action against “The Chechen Wolf,” Shamil Nikaev (10-0), No. 7-ranked Leandro Higo (21-6) goes to battle against Team Fedor’s Nikita Mikhailov (10-2) at bantamweight, Cody Law (6-2) looks to bounce back from the first losing streak of his young career against Colorado’s Edwin Chavez (6-4), Wladmir Gouvea (1-0) returns for his sophomore appearance in BELLATOR against two-fight veteran Kevin Childs (1-1), and highly-touted Max Metzgar makes his pro debut againstDavid McKinney (1-3).
Additionally, Kyle Crutchmer (9-2), a two-time NCAA All-American and two-time Big 12 champion at Oklahoma State has replaced Roman Faraldo (8-1) and will now face Bobby Nash (12-4) in a welterweight matchup.
These six bouts join a critically acclaimed event headlined by BELLATOR Light Heavyweight World Champion and No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter Vadim Nemkov (16-2), defending the throne against No. 3-ranked ageless wonder Yoel Romero (15-6). An equally compelling co-main event will feature BELLATOR’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter and current BELLATOR Featherweight World Champion, Patricio “Pitbull” (35-5), who looks to make MMA history by becoming a three-division champion as he moves down a weight class to challenge incumbent bantamweight kingpin and No. 8-ranked pound-for-pound athlete Sergio Pettis (22-5) in a BELLATOR “Super Fight” for the ages. Additionally, a battle between the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked light heavyweights between Corey Anderson (16-6) and Phil Davis (24-6) is set, as is a heavyweight slugfest between No. 4-ranked Daniel James (15-6-1) and No.10-ranked Gokhan Saricam (8-2)
BELLATOR 297: Nemkov vs. Romero airs LIVE in the U.S. at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME. The preliminary contests will air live at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel, and Pluto TV.
Tickets for the explosive event are on sale now at Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.
#5-Austin Vanderford vs. Imamshafi Aliev — Middleweight Bout
No. 5-ranked middleweight contender and former BELLATOR world title challenger Austin Vanderford (11-2) will look to get back to his usual winning ways against undefeated Dagestani Imamshafi Aliev (9-0) in a preliminary matchup. The 33-year-old Vanderford will be eager to add to his highlight reel and re-assert his case for title contention when he steps into the BELLATOR cage for the first time since August, while Aliev will try to build upon the momentum earned in his dominant BELLATOR debut in Chicago last November.
Jordan Newman vs. Matthew Perry – Middleweight Bout
Undefeated top up-and-comer Jordan Newman (5-0) proved he is much more than just a wrestler in Chicago last November when he out struck and then submitted Jayden Taulker at BELLATOR 288. At BELLATOR 297, the two-time NCAA Division III National Champion will take on Matthew Perry (5-3) in a matchup worthy of getting the Friends together.
Mike Hamel vs. Shamil Nikaev – Lightweight Bout
Elsewhere on the preliminary card, fellow BELLATOR 293 victor Mike Hamel (10-5) joins Archie Colgan in a quick turnaround when he faces surging Russian standout Shamil Nikaev (10-0) in a lightweight clash. A five-fight BELLATOR veteran, Hamel sports an impressive three-fight winning capped off by his lightning quick knockout of Nick Browne in March. Winning streaks are no stranger to the undefeated, Kill Cliff FC-trained Nikaev, who will make his long-awaited return to the BELLATOR cage after besting Kemran Lachinov in 2020.
Cody Law vs. Edwin Chavez – Featherweight Bout
At featherweight, blue-chip prospect Cody Law (6-2) will look to right the ship against promotional newcomer Edwin Chavez (6-4). The former NCAA Division II National Champion and two-time All-American hopes to remind the division of his limitless potential with an emphatic victory over Colorado’s Chavez at BELLATOR 297.
#7-Leandro Higo vs. Nikita Mikhailov – Bantamweight Bout
Brazilian ex-title challenger Leandro Higo (21-6) will return to defend his place among the bantamweight Top Ten for the first time since his participation in the Bantamweight World Grand Prix against Russia’s Nikita Mikhailov (9-2). Higo enters off a razor-thin decision against superstar Danny Sabatello keen to return to the win column after victories in three of his last four. Opposite Higo, Mikhailov’s decision victory over former Bantamweight World Champion Darrion Caldwell has given the upstart plenty of confidence, and he believes his skills will match up well with Higo’s in this preliminary affair.
Wladmir Gouvea vs. Kevin Childs — Heavyweight Bout
Heavyweight prospect Wladmir Gouvea (1-0) will return to Chicago for the second time in as many professional fights when he challenges Kevin Childs (1-1) in this preliminary fight. The 30-year-old AKA product swarmed Kory Moegenburg for a second-round TKO in his pro debut, and he hopes to do the same against Childs on June 16. Childs, 28, brings with him a wealth of amateur MMA and boxing experience for what looks every bit the part of a classic heavyweight brawl.
BELLATOR 297: NEMKOV VS. ROMERO MAIN CARD:
SHOWTIME
Friday, June 16 — 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight World Title Bout: C-Vadim Nemkov (16-2) vs. #3-Yoel Romero (15-6)
Bantamweight World Title Bout: C-Sergio Pettis (22-5) vs. C-Patricio “Pitbull” (35-5)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #1-Corey Anderson (16-6) vs. #2-Phil Davis (24-6)
Heavyweight Bout: #4-Daniel James (15-6-1) vs. #10-Gokhan Saricam (8-2)
BELLATOR 297: NEMKOV VS. ROMERO PRELIMINARY CARD:
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
Friday, June 16 — 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
Welterweight Bout: Kyle Crutchmer (9-2) vs. Bobby Nash (12-4)
Middleweight Bout: #5-Austin Vanderford (11-2) vs. Imamshafi Aliev (9-0)
Lightweight Bout: #9-Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-1) vs. Pieter Buist (17-6)
Bantamweight Bout: #7-Leandro Higo (21-6) vs. Nikita Mikhailov (10-2)
Welterweight Bout: Jaleel Willis (16-4) vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov (10-0)
Light Heavyweight Bout: #5-Alex Polizzi (10-2) vs. #8-Karl Moore (11-2)
Heavyweight Bout: Wladmir Gouvea (1-0) vs. Kevin Childs (1-1)
Lightweight Bout: #10-Archie Colgan (7-0) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (20-8)
Lightweight Bout: Mike Hamel (10-5) vs. Shamil Nikaev (10-0)
Middleweight Bout: Norbert Novenyi Jr. (6-0) vs. Kamil Oniszczuk (9-2)
Featherweight Bout: #8-Timur Khizriev (12-0) vs. Richie Smullen (10-2-1)
Middleweight Bout: Jordan Newman (5-0) vs. Matthew Perry (5-3)
Featherweight Bout: Cody Law (6-2) vs. Edwin Chavez (6-4)
Lightweight Bout: Max Metzgar (Pro Debut) vs. David McKinney (1-3)
*Card subject to change
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
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Updated schedule of BELLATOR events - click links for updated fight cards
Fri. May 12 // BELLATOR 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards // Accor Arena // Paris, France
Fri. June 16 // BELLATOR 297: Nemkov vs. Romero // Wintrust Arena // Chicago, Ill
About BELLATOR:
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity, and commission relations. BELLATOR is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Paramount, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
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Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount, owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.
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