Bellator MMA brings a big championship doubleheader to Chicago on June 16. Vadim Nemkov defends his Bellator light heavyweight championship against multi-time UFC title challenger Yoel Romero at Bellator 297. The card also features reigning featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull pursuing his third-divisional title against bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis.
Nemkov's claim to the light heavyweight throne was shaky after a no-contest against Corey Anderson in a fight that was trending in Anderson's favor. Their November 2022 rematch was far more conclusive and favored Nemkov. The champion's next challenger is Yoel Romero, a physical marvel and multi-time UFC title challenger. Romero is a genetic freak of nature but finds himself challenging an athlete 16 years his junior in prime form.
Bellator 297 also features a historic bantamweight title fight. Reigning featherweight champion and former simultaneous two-division champion Pitbull is in pursuit of Pettis' bantamweight title. Pitbull is often considered the greatest fighter in Bellator history and can further his legacy in Chicago. The winner will fight interim bantamweight champ and Grand Prix winner Patchy Mix at a later date.
This summer also marks the promotion's return to Japan for Bellator vs. Rizin 2. The event will see multiple crossover bouts, but the main event pits AJ McKee against Patricky Pitbull in a quarterfinal matchup of the Lightweight World Grand Prix. There's still bad blood between the McKee and Pitbull families after McKee split his series with Patricio Pitbull at featherweight. Plus, the inaugural flyweight champion will be crowned when Kyoji Horiguchi Makoto Shinryu.
Three months later, Fabian Edwards -- brother of UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards -- looks to add more gold to his family's trophy case. A unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi put Fabian Edwards in line as the next challenger for Johnny Eblen's crown. The two middleweights will headline the promotion's return to Ireland for Bellator Dublin on Sept. 23.
Be sure to check back in on this page to stay up to date on the upcoming Bellator events throughout the remainder of the year.
Upcoming Bellator MMA schedule
| Event | Date | Main event | Weight class | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellator 297 | June 16 | Vadim Nemkov (c) vs. Yoel Romero | Light heavyweight title | Chicago | Showtime |
| Bellator vs. Rizin 2 | July 30 | AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull | Lightweight World Grand Prix | Saitama, Japan | Showtime |
| Bellator 298 | Aug. 11 | Logan Storley vs. Brennan Ward | Welterweight | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Showtime |
| Bellator Dublin | Sept. 23 | Johnny Elben (c) vs. Fabian Edwards | Middleweight title | Dublin | Showtime |
