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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

Bellator 297 predictions: Who’s picking upsets in the two title fights in Chicago?

Nemkov
vs.
Romero
Pettis
vs.
Freire
Anderson
vs.
Davis
James
vs.
Saricam
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
89-55

Nemkov
(61%)

Freire
(60%)

Anderson
(55%)

James
(63%)
Matt Erickson
@MattE
94-50

Nemkov

Freire

Davis

James
Nolan King
@mma_kings
91-53

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
90-54

Nemkov

Pettis

Anderson

James
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
90-54

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
87-57

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
85-59
2014 Champion

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
-84-60
2018, 2022 Champion

Nemkov

Freire

Davis

Saricam
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
83-61

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
81-63

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
79-65
2017 Champion

Nemkov

Freire

Anderson

James
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
78-66

Romero

Freire

Anderson

James

Bellator is back in the “Windy City” this week with a pair of title fights at the top of the card.

Bellator 297 takes place Friday at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) puts his title on the line against Yoel Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA). Nemkov is a heavy favorite of more than 6-1 at some online sportsbooks, and he is a near unanimous pick from our 11 editors, writers and videographers at 10-1.

In the co-feature, Sergio Pettis (22-5 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) puts his bantamweight title up for grabs against featherweight champ Patricio Freire (35-5 MMA, 23-5 BMMA), who also is a former lightweight titleholder. A win would make him the first three-division champion in Bellator history and would have him as a dual champ once again. “Pitbull” Freire is a 2-1 favorite and a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.

Corey Anderson (17-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) nearly is a 2-1 favorite against former light heavyweight champ Phil Davis (24-6 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) and he has a big 9-2 picks lead.

And to open the main card, even though he’s a slight underdog, heavyweight contender and Chicago native Daniel James (15-6-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has a massive 10-1 picks lead on Gokhan Saricam (8-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA).

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.

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