The biggest Bellator event of the year so far goes down Friday with Bellator 297, which takes place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago with a main card that airs on Showtime following prelims streamed on MMA Junkie.
A championship doubleheader is featured on the top of a loaded card. In the main card, Vadim Nemkov (15-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) will attempt to make his third light heavyweight title defense when he takes on Yoel Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). The co-headliner, meanwhile, sees the return of bantamweight titleholder Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), who attempts to defend against current featherweight and former lightweight champ Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 22-5 BMMA) in a potentially historic affair.
For more on the numbers behind the two title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about Bellator 297.
Vadim Nemkov
Nemkov is one of eight light heavyweight champions in Bellator history. It’s the most title turnover between different names of any division in company history.
Nemkov’s nine-fight Bellator unbeaten streak is the longest active streak in the company.
Nemkov’s nine-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Nemkov’s eight victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Phil Davis (11) and Liam McGeary (nine).
Nemkov’s five stoppage victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Liam McGeary (eight).
Yoel Romero
Romero is 2-1 since he returned to light heavyweight division in September 2021.
Romero has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.
Romero’s eight stoppage victories in Round 3 of Bellator/UFC competition are the most of any fighter in combined organizational history. Randy Couture held the previous record with six such wins.
Romero’s victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at Bellator 280 marked the latest stoppage in a three-round Bellator fight.
Sergio Pettis
Pettis is one of eight fighters to hold the undisputed Bellator bantamweight title.
Pettis returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 3, 2021. The 561-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 12-year career.
Pettis’ four-fight Bellator winning streak at bantamweight is the third-longest active streak in the division behind Jaylon Bates (seven) and Patchy Mix (five).
Pettis earned the first spinning backfist knockout in Bellator title-fight history at Bellator 272.
Patricio Freire
Freire competes in his 28th Bellator bout, the most appearances in company history.
Freire, the current Bellator featherweight champion and former lightweight titleholder, will attempt to become the first fighter in a major MMA promotion to win belts in three weight classes.
Freire is one of three fighters in Bellator history to have three separate title reigns in a single weight class. Michael Chandler and Douglas Lima also accomplished the feat.
Freire, a former lightweight champion, is the only fighter in Bellator history with four separate championship reigns.
Freire is one of two simultaneous two-division champions in Bellator history. Ryan Bader also accomplished the feat.
Freire is one of three fighters in Bellator history to win titles in two weight classes. Bader and Joe Warren also accomplished the feat.
Freire can become the first fighter in MMA history to win titles in three weight classes under the banner of a major promotion.
Freire competes in his 16th Bellator title fight, the most in company history.
Freire’s 12 victories in Bellator championship fights are most in company history.
Freire’s 22 victories in Bellator competition are most in company history.
Freire’s 21 victories in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.
Freire’s 13 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are tied with A.J. McKee and Chandler for most in company history.
Freire’s 12 stoppage victories in Bellator featherweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind McKee (13).
Freire’s seven knockout victories in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.
Freire’s five submission victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind McKee (seven).
Corey Anderson vs. Phil Davis
Corey Anderson (16-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) has earned all three of his Bellator victories by knockout.
Anderson’s 61-second knockout of Matt Van Buren at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale stands as the fastest finish in a “TUF” tournament final.
Anderson’s 53 takedowns landed in UFC light heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed against Patrick Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are the single-fight record for a UFC light heavyweight bout.
Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed vs. Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 are tied for the fifth-most in a single UFC fight.
Phil Davis’ (24-6 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) competes in his 15th Bellator light heavyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Davis’ 11 victories in Bellator light heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Alex Polizzi vs. Karl Moore
Karl Moore’s (11-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) three-fight Bellator winning streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
Emmanuel Sanchez’s (20-8 MMA, 12-7 BMMA) four-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since November 2020.
Sanchez’s 12 victories by Bellator featherweight competition are third-most in divisional history behind Freire (21) and McKee (18).
Sanchez’s eight decision wins in Bellator featherweight competition are most in divisional history.
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Kamil Oniszczuk
Norbert Novenyi Jr.’s (7-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) five-fight Bellator winning streak at middleweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Johnny Eblen (nine), Dalton Rosta (six) and Jordan Newman (five).
Cody Law vs. Edwin Chavez
Cody Law (6-2 MMA, 6-2 BMMA) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 6-0.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.
