Bellator 297’s Yoel Romero looks to avoid ‘Windy City’ curse in latest attempt to win gold

The final time Yoel Romero competed in Chicago, Ailing., the wrestling powerhouse got here up quick at UFC 225, shedding a razor-thin split decision to now-former Final Combating Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion, Robert Whittaker, again in 2018.

Many — “Soldier of God” included — felt he deserved the nod after a highly-competitive 25-minute scrap, however the judges felt in any other case. That stated, a win wouldn’t have earned Romero the title as a result of he missed championship weight, making him ineligible to grow to be champion.

However, Romero says he needs to erase the reminiscence of what occurred in his final journey to “The Windy Metropolis” as he gears as much as problem Vadim Nemkov for his Gentle Heavyweight title in the principle occasion of Bellator 297 this Friday (June 16, 2023).

“On some events, it’s good to recollect and imagine in these issues that encourage me,” Romero barked throughout a current media day (by way of MMA Junkie). “After I educated, it was to come back again and combat right here.

“Years in the past, I used to be a champion of one other firm,” he continued. “Everybody is aware of what occurred in that combat. This time, I’ll make sure that it’s not the identical as final time. So for the day, I inform my youngsters. I’ll have one other story to inform them.”

Romero’s remark of being “champion of one other firm” additional proves he’s nonetheless stinging from that call, and the truth that .2 kilos made him ineligible regardless. The loss to Whittaker began a downward spiral for Cuban wrestler, who went on to lose three straight after that, together with his Bellator MMA debut to Phil Davis.

After bouncing again by scoring back-to-back knockout wins over Alex Polizzi and Melvin Manhoef (see them here and here), “Soldier of God” will try and get his first style of blended martial arts (MMA) gold by handing Nemkov his first defeat in seven years after going 10-0-1 throughout that span, which incorporates his newest title protection in opposition to Cory Anderson at Bellator 288.

Fortunately, they’re fighting at ground level.

To take a look at the newest Bellator MMA-related information and notes make sure to hit up our complete information archive right here.