The Bellator 297 card is stacked at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois on Friday headlining a light heavyweight fight that sees Yoel Romero get another (and possibly last) chance to claim gold in a major promotion.
The former multi-time UFC middleweight contender now calls the 205-pound division home, and he’s won his last two fights, both by stoppage. At 46, the Cuban Olympian is still a threat, but he’s up against the most successful heavyweight champion in Bellator history in Vadim Nemkov.
“I feel great. This is a great moment for me, in my career. This is very important for my career, to have that belt,” Romero (15-6) said during media day in Chicago on Tuesday. “This moment feels like the moment. It’s an amazing moment for me, for my life and for my family.”
Asked what skills Nemkov has to offer, and whether he’s on a different level than some of Romero’s past foes, “Soldier of God” replied “Every fight is different. I’ve fought good fighters before. They all have something special. He’s an exceptional, amazing fighter. No.” I believe [Vadim]Above or below the level of fighters you have fought before. It is what it is.”
Romero returns to the scene of the crime so to speak, after he fought Robert Whitaker at UFC 225 in Chicago. He lost the fight via split decision, an outcome many considered a robbery at the time. The weight loss disqualified him from winning the belt that night, but had things turned out differently, Romero might have been a champion.
Describing it as a “strange memory”, Romero added that “some occasions it’s good to remember, to believe in those things that motivate me. When I trained, I was supposed to come back and fight here. Years ago, I was the champ of another company. Everyone knows what happened.” in that fight.”
That loss to Whitaker turned out to be both Fight of the Night and Fight of the Year in 2018. Now that he’s back, Romero continued, “This time I’m going to make sure it’s not like last time. So the day I tell my kids, I’ll have another story to tell.” for them “.
Watch Bellator 297’s full media appearance for Romero Day by Yoel Romero above.