Bellator’s lone event of the month went down Friday with Bellator 297 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, and it was arguably the promotion’s biggest show of the year thus far.
Two championship bouts topped the card, and both men who entered the cage with belts, lefts with them, too. Vadim Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) handily defeated Yoel Romero (15-7 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the headliner to retain the light heavyweight strap, while Sergio Pettis (23-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) kept hold of bantamweight gold with a unanimous decision over Patricio Freire (35-6 MMA, 22-6 BMMA).
For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from Bellator 297.
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Vadim Nemkov def. Yoel Romero
Nemkov’s five consecutive Bellator light heavyweight title defenses are most in divisional history.
Nemkov’s five consecutive Bellator title defenses are most among current champions in the company.
Nemkov became the fourth fighter in Bellator history to start their promotional tenure with a 10-fight unbeaten streak. A.J. McKee, Michael Page and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane also accomplished the feat.
Nemkov’s 10-fight Bellator unbeaten streak is the longest active streak in the company.
Nemkov’s 10-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Nemkov’s nine victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are tied with Liam McGeary for second-most in divisional history behind Phil Davis (11).
Romero fell to 2-5 in his past seven fights dating back to June 2018.
Romero fell to 2-2 since he returned to light heavyweight division in September 2021.
Romero has suffered six of his seven career losses by decision. That includes both of his Bellator defeats.
Sergio Pettis def. Patricio Freire
Pettis’ five-fight Bellator winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Patchy Mix for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Jaylon Bates (seven).
Pettis has earned three of his five Bellator victories by decision.
Freire’s three losses in Bellator title fights are tied for third-most in company history behind Michael Chandler (five) and Douglas Lima (five).
Freire has suffered four of his six career losses by decision.
Corey Anderson def. Phil Davis
Phil Davis (24-7 MMA, 11-4 BMA) has suffered all seven of his career losses by decision.
Mike Hamel vs. Shamil Nikaev
Mike Hamel (11-5 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
Shamil Nikaev (10-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) had his 11-fight unbeaten streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
Karl Moore def. Alex Polizzi
Karl Moore’s (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Moore has eared three of his four Bellator victories by decision.
Alex Polizzi (10-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) has suffered two of his three career losses by decision.
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Pieter Buist
Gadzhi Rabadanov’s (20-4-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at lightweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind champion Usman Nurmagomedov (five).
Pieter Buist’s (16-7 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since January 2020.
Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Jaleel Willis
Jaleel Willis (16-5 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) has suffered four of his five career losses by stoppage.
Norbert Novenyi Jr. def. Kamil Oniszczuk
Norbert Novenyi Jr.’s (8-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) six-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Johnny Eblen (nine).
Novenyi Jr. has earned five of his six Bellator victories by stoppage.
Kamil Oniszczuk (9-3 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) suffered the first knockout loss of his career.
Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
Emmanuel Sanchez (20-9 MMA, 12-8 BMMA) five-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2020.
Sanchez fell to 0-2 since he moved up to the lightweight division in April 2022.
Sanchez has suffered eight of his nine career losses by decision.
Jordan Newman def. Matthew Perry
Jordan Newman’s (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) six-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Eblen (nine).
Newman has earned four of his six career victories by stoppage.
Matthew Perry (5-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) has suffered three of his four career losses by stoppage.
Cody Law def. Edwin Chavez
Edwin Chavez’s (6-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since June 2022.
Chavez has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.
