Welcome to Fightful's results, live coverage and discussion for Bellator 297. We will bring you full, fight by fight coverage of the whole card. Scroll down to the Disqus boards below and chat with fellow fans during the event.
Main Card (9pm EST., Showtime)
Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship
Vadim Nemkov def. #3 Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain the title
Bellator Bantamweight Championship
Sergio Pettis def. Patricio Pitbull by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the title
#1 Corey Anderson def. #2 Phil Davis by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#10 Gokhan Saricam def. #4 Daniel James by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Preliminary Card (6pm EST., Youtube)
Cody Law def. Edwin Chavez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jordan Newman def. Matthew Perry by submission via key lock (4:20, R1)
#10 Archie Colgan def. Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Norbert Novenyi Jr. def. Kamil Oniszczuk by KO via strikes (0:46, R1)
Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Jaleel Willis by KO via strikes (1:22, R1)
#8 Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Pieter Buist by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Round By Round Coverage
Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship
Vadim Nemkov (c) vs. #3 Yoel Romero
Round One: The round begins with Nemkov attacking Romero with a front kick, Nemkov continues attacking Romero with a variety of kicks. Nemkov attacks Romero with high kicks and punching combinations, Romero lands some leg kicks on Nemkov. Romero trips up a swinging Nemkov after landing a leg kick, Nemkov then pops Romero with a straight right. Nemkov then lands a spinning back kick to the midsection of Romero, Nemkov then hits Romero with a right followed by a body kick. Nemkov goes for a spinning attack on Romero as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Nemkov
Round Two: The round begins with Nemkov backing Romero up with a combination, Nemkov cracks Romero with a kick to the midsection. Nemkov lands a counter right followed by a body kick on a swinging Romero, Nemkov backs up Romero after throwing a four punch combination. Nemkov continuously cracks Romero with rights, Nemkov also continues throwing a variety of kicks against Romero. Nemkov backs up Romero again after kicking him right in the midsection, Nemkov then hits Romero with a two punch combo as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Nemkov (Overall Score: 20-18 for Nemkov)
Round Three: The round begins with Romero hitting Nemkov with a hammer fist to the leg, Nemkov responds by landing a multiple punch combo on Nemkov. Nemkov rocks Romero after landing a multiple punch combination, Nemkov backs Romero into the fence while swinging away at him. Nemkov then cracks a swinging Romero with a counter right, Nemkov pops a charging Romero with a counter left. Romero drops Nemkov with a left from out of nowhere and Nemkov gets up a short time later, Nemkov swings away at Romero as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Nemkov (Overall Score: 30-27 for Nemkov)
Round Four: The round begins with Nemkov swinging away against Romero, Romero lands some leg kicks against Nemkov. Nemkov backs up Romero before attacking him with a knee strike, Nemkov dances around Romero while landing combinations. Romero takes some wild swings and misses badly against Nemkov, Nemkov continues lighting up Romero with combinations. Romero charges at Nemkov and he lands a few shots as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Nemkov (Overall Score: 40-36 for Nemkov)
Round Five: The round begins with Nemkov attacking Romero with combinations, Nemkov hunts for a takedown against Romero. Romero comes forward and he swings wildly at Nemkov, Romero backs up Nemkov while swinging away at him. Nemkov continuously hunts for takedowns against Romero, Romero grabs Nemkov and he backs him into the fence. Romero scores a takedown on Nemkov and he gets the full guard, Romero transitions to side control against Nemkov. Romero attacks Nemkov with ground and pound as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Romero (Final Score: 49-46 for Nemkov)
Official Result: Vadim Nemkov def. #3 Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) to retain the title
Bellator Bantamweight Championship
Sergio Pettis (c) vs. Patricio Pitbull
Round One: The round begins with Pettis attacking Pitbull with some leg kicks, Pitbull responds by landing leg kicks of his own. Pettis cracks a swinging Pitbull with a counter right hook, Pitbull eats a body kick before landing a right on Pettis. Pitbull then hits Pettis with a kick to the midsection, Pitbull scores a takedown on Pettis and he gets back control. Pettis scrambles and he gets free to get the fight standing again, Pettis attacks Pitbull with multiple high kicks. Pitbull cracks a kicking Pettis with a counter right hook as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pitbull
Round Two: The round begins with Pettis nailing a swinging Pitbull with a counter left, Pitbull goes back to landing leg kicks on Pettis. Pettis pops Pitbull with a left followed by a kick to the midsection, Pettis then cracks Pitbull with a four punch combo. Pettis goes for a wheel kick while Pitbull also throws a leg kick at the same time, Pitbull lands a few counter strikes and a jump knee strike on a swinging Pettis. Pettis recovers and he nails Pitbull with a left to the midsection, Pitbull looks for a takedown and Pettis defends. Pettis rocks Pitbull with a spinning wheel kick to the head as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pettis (Overall Score: 19-19 for Draw)
Round Three: The round begins with Pitbull landing some leg kicks on Pettis, Pettis charges at Pitbull while swinging away at him. Pitbull looks for a takedown and Pettis defends against it, Pettis then hits Pitbull with a right to the midsection. Pitbull cracks a swinging Pettis with a counter right, Pettis goes for a high kick and Pitbull manages to block it. Pettis follows up by landing a five punch combo against Pitbull, Pitbull and Pettis land simultaneous rights. Pitbull lands a right before eating a combination from Pettis, Pitbull scores a takedown on Pettis and he gets the half guard as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pettis (Overall Score:: 29-28 for Pettis)
Round Four: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Pettis defends a takedown from Pitbull while also landing a combination. Pitbull goes for the takedown again as he backs Pettis into the fence, the fighters separate and trade some jabs. Pitbull backs up Pettis while landing a knee strike to the midsection, Pettis nails Pitbull with a front kick to the face as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pettis (Overall Score: 39-37 for Pettis)
Round Five: The round begins with Pitbull missing a wheel kick attempt against Pettis, Pitbull backs up Pettis while taking some swings at him. Pettis cracks a swinging Pitbull with a counter strike combination, Pettis lands a two punch combo against a swinging Pitbull. Pettis then lights up Pitbull with a multiple punch combination, Pitbull briefly clinches with Pettis before landing a right. Pitbull and Pettis start getting into a few wild striking exchanges, Pettis fakes a takedown before landing a right on Pitbull. Pitbull goes for a spinning back fist and Pettis counters with a right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Pettis (Final Score: 49-46 for Pettis)
Official Result: Sergio Pettis def. Patricio Pitbull by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) to retain the title
#1 Corey Anderson vs. #2 Phil Davis
Round One: The round begins with Davis grabbing a swinging Anderson and backing him into the fence, Anderson scores a takedown on Davis and Davis pops right back up. Davis grabs Anderson and he backs him into the fence while looking for a takedown, the fighters separate and Anderson stuns Davis with a jab. Davis lands a right before eating a left hook from Anderson, Anderson backs Davis into the fence after landing a combo. The fighters separate and Anderson lands leg kicks on Davis, Anderson scores a takedown on Davis and he gets side control. Davis sweeps Anderson and both fighters get back to their feet, Anderson looks for another takedown as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Anderson
Round Two: The round begins with Anderson taking a few swings at Davis, Davis and Anderson exchange some jabs before Davis throws some kicks. Davis hunts for a takedown after Anderson pops him with a right, the fighters separate and Anderson swings away at Davis. Anderson and Davis exchange a few combos, Anderson backs Davis into the fence after a brief slip from Anderson. Davis separates from Anderson after landing a knee strike to his midsection, Anderson pops Davis with a right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Anderson (Overall Score: 20-18 for Anderson)
Round Three: The round begins with Davis landing some jabs against Anderson, Anderson starts landing leg kicks against Davis. Davis cracks a swinging Anderson with a counter right hook, Anderson scores a takedown on Davis and he gets back control. Davis scrambles to his feet and Anderson backs him into the fence, the fighters clinch and then separate after exchanging a few knee strikes. Anderson and Davis exchange a few combinations as well, Davis pops Anderson with a left as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Anderson (Final Score: 30-27 for Anderson)
Official Result: #1 Corey Anderson def. #2 Phil Davis by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#4 Daniel James vs. #10 Gokhan Saricam
Round One: The round begins with Saricam landing a counter left on a jabbing James, Saricam scores a takedown and James pops right back up. The fighters clinch and battle for position along the fence, the fighters exchange knee strikes while in the clinch. Saricam separates from James before scoring a takedown and getting the open guard, Saricam attacks James with some ground and pound. Saricam gains the half guard on James as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Saricam
Round Two: The round begins with Saricam attacking James with some leg kicks, Saricam scores a takedown on James and he gets the half guard. James gets Saricam back in his full guard while eating some ground and pound, Saricam regains the half guard while landing more shots on James until the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Saricam (Overall Score: 20-18 for Saricam)
Round Three: The round begins with Saricam landing leg kicks on a swinging James, Saricam stuns a swinging James with a counter left. Saricam looks for a takedown and James defends before getting him up against the fence, the referee separates the fighters for inactivity. The action resumes with Saricam immediately backing James into the fence, the fighters stay in the clinch and battle for position along the fence. Saricam scores a takedown on James and he keeps top control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Saricam (Final Score: 30-27 for Saricam)
Official Result: #10 Gokhan Saricam def. #4 Daniel James by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
#8 Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Pieter Buist
Round One: The round begins with Rabadanov scoring a takedown on Buist and he gets the open guard, Rabadanov advances to side control against Buist. Buist gets Rabadanov into his half guard while defends against a kimura attempt, Rabadanov briefly looks for a guillotine choke as Buist gets him in his open guard. Rabadanov regains the half guard before getting back control on Buist, Buist scrambles and he manages to get Rabadanov back into his half guard. Rabadanov regains the full mount and then back control against Buist, Rabadanov starts landing ground and pound on Buist. Buist scrambles at the right time and he manages to get top control on Rabadanov, Buist attacks Rabadanov with some ground and pound. Buist keeps top control as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Rabadanov
Round Two: The round begins with Buist landing some leg kicks on Rabadanov, Rabadanov backs Buist against the fence before scoring a takedown on him. Rabadanov transitions to full mount and then back control on Buist, Buist gets Rabadanov back into his half guard while eating a few strikes, Rabadanov locks Buist in the arm triangle choke and Buist survives. Buist wall walks to his feet and Rabadanov holds him against the fence, the fighters separate and Buist hits Rabadanov with a few kicks. Buist lands multiple body kicks on Rabadanov as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Rabadanov (Overall Score: 20-18 for Rabadanov)
Round Three: The round begins with the fighters taking a few swings at each other, Rabadanov eats a right as he backs Buist into the fence. Rabadanov scores a takedown and Buist scrambles right back up to his feet, Buist lands a knee strike before Rabadanov backs him into the fence. The fighters separate and Buist attacks Rabadanov with a variety of kicks, Rabadanov backs a swinging Buist back into the fence. Rabadanov looks for a takedown and Buist catches him in a modified guillotine choke, Rabadanov defends and Buist keeps top control. Rabadanov scrambles to his feet and Buist swings away at him as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Buist (Final Score: 29-28 for Rabadanov)
Official Result: #8 Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Pieter Buist by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jaleel Willis vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
Round One: The round begins with Kuramagomedov attacking Willis with some leg kicks, Willis eats a body kick before throwing leg kicks at Kuramagomedov. Willis charges at Kuramagomedov while swinging away at him, Kuramagomedov drops Willis with a knee strike to the head and he lands follow up shots as the referee jumps in.
Official Result: Ramazan Kuramagomedov def. Jaleel Willis by KO via strikes (1:22, R1)
Norbert Novenyi Jr. vs. Kamil Oniszczuk
Round One: The round begins with Novenyi Jr cracking Oniszczuk with a right, Novenyi Jr follows up by landing a follow up right on Oniszczuk. Novenyi avoids the kicks from Oniszczuk while landing more rights, Novenyi levels a swinging Oniszczuk with a counter right and he lands follow up strikes until Oniszczuk goes out cold.
Official Result: Norbert Novenyi Jr. def. Kamil Oniszczuk by KO via strikes (0:46, R1)
#10 Archie Colgan vs. Emmanuel Sanchez
Round One: The round begins with Colgan peppering Sanchez with a few jabs, Sanchez starts landing leg kicks on Colgan. Sanchez backs up Colgan after throwing a multiple punch combination, Colgan looks for a takedown and Sanchez defends while landing knee strikes. Sanchez lands some leg kicks before eating a counter right from Colgan, Colgan scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets the full guard. Colgan starts landing some ground and pound on Sanchez, Sanchez scrambles and he gets to his feet before eating a right from Colgan. Sanchez leaps at Colgan and Colgan pops him with a right as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Colgan
Round Two: The round begins with Colgan landing some leg kicks against a swinging Sanchez, Colgan cracks Sanchez with a kick to the midsection. Colgan scores a takedown on Sanchez and he gets the full guard, Sanchez scrambles to his feet and Colgan drags him back to the ground. Sanchez scrambles to his feet before landing an uppercut on Colgan, Sanchez lands a high kick to the upper body of Colgan. Sanchez charges at Colgan while attacking him with combinations, Sanchez grabs Colgan and he backs him into the fence. The fighters separate and exchange some shots, Sanchez cracks Colgan with another kick to the midsection. Sanchez goes for a jump knee and Colgan lands a counter right hook, Colgan scores another takedown on Sanchez and he gets the full guard as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Colgan (Overall Score: 20-18 for Colgan)
Round Three: The round begins with Colgan grabbing Sanchez and he backs him into the fence, Sanchez clinches and he lands multiple strikes on Colgan before separating. Colgan pops Sanchez with a pair of short left hooks, Sanchez continues coming forward while swinging away at Colgan. Colgan looks for a takedown and Sanchez defends while attempting a jump guillotine choke, Colgan gets free and he gets Sanchez to the ground. Sanchez sets up for a triangle choke and Colgan defends against it, Colgan attacks Sanchez with some ground and pound. Sanchez tries scrambling to his feet and Colgan keeps him grounded, Sanchez sets up for another triangle choke and Colgan defends again as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Colgan (Final Score: 30-27 for Colgan)
Official Result: #10 Archie Colgan def. Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Jordan Newman vs. Matthew Perry
Round One: The round begins with Newman cracking a kicking Perry with a multiple punch combination, Perry starts landing some leg kicks on Newman. Perry cracks a charging Newman with a counter left, Newman scores a takedown on Perry and he gets the full guard. Newman postures up while landing ground and pound on Perry, Newman returns to the ground while landing more ground and pound on Perry. Newman advances to side control on Perry while landing more strikes, Newman briefly looks for a submission before advancing to the half guard of Perry. Newman gains the full mount on Perry while landing more ground and pound, Newman regains the half guard and he forces Perry to tap to a key lock.
Official Result: Jordan Newman def. Matthew Perry by submission via key lock (4:20, R1)
Cody Law vs. Edwin Chavez
Round One: The round begins with Law attacking Chavez with a two punch combination, Law pops a kicking Chavez with a counter right. Law keeps Chavez on the fence while swinging away at him, Law then pops Chavez with a left hook followed by another combo. Law then cracks a swinging Chavez with a right to the midsection, Law continues backing up Chavez while landing more shots. Law goes for a high kick before landing another combo on Chavez, Law scores a takedown on Chavez and he gets the open guard. Law lands ground and pound before gaining back control on Chavez, Chavez scrambles to his feet and Law drags him back to the ground. Law immediately lands more ground and pound on Chavez as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Law
Round Two: The round begins with Chavez kicking Law in the midsection, Chavez then pops a swinging Law with a counter right. Law scores a takedown on Chavez and he gets side control, Law transitions to the half guard against a scrambling Chavez. Chavez eventually gets Law in his butterfly guard, Law occasionally lands some ground and pound against Chavez. Law returns to the half guard position against Chavez as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Law (Overall Score: 20-18 for Law)
Round Three: The round begins with Chavez barely landing a high kick against Law, Law scores a takedown on Chavez and Chavez catches him in a guillotine choke. Law defends against the choke and he gets top control on the ground, Chavez scrambles and he makes it back to his feet. Law looks for a takedown and Chavez defends while landing multiple elbow strikes, Chavez drops for a guillotine choke on Law and he transitions to a d’arce choke. Law defends to get free and he regains top control on Chavez, Chavez scrambles and Law lands a knee strike as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Chavez (Final Score: 29-28 for Law)
Official Result: Cody Law def. Edwin Chavez by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
