Yoel Romero vs Phil Davis Fight Booked For September 18

Former UFC fighter and newly signed Bellator prospect Yoel Romero will finally be making his debut against MMA veteran Phil Davis on September 18. Earlier Yoel Romero was also declared as medically fit to compete and the Bellator President Scott Coker was very excited to set up matches for his new prospect. The light heavyweight matchup between Romero and Phil Davis will headline Bellator’s September 18 event in San Jose, California. MMA reporter Ariel Helwani was the first to report the booking.

Earlier Bellator president Scott Coker revealed Romero is once again eligible to compete following a canceled May fight due to an eye issue.

“I think he is cleared now, so I think we’ll be looking to book him and have him fight before the end of the year,” Coker told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “I think he’s good to go on all cylinders moving forward. Give us another week or two and we’ll figure it out and put him on a card somewhere.”
“Yes, he’s going to compete at 205,” Coker said. “I think he said he’s willing to cut, but right now, he’s at 205.”

Yoel Romero Makes his Bellator Debut

Former UFC middleweight title challenger is now finally ready to make his long-awaited Bellator debut. In his last UFC fight, Romero was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN 15. However, Romero pulled out of the fight on August 11 for undisclosed reasons. The bout was subsequently canceled. Just a few months after that Romero announced his departure from the UFC and became a free agent.

On December 14, 2020, it was announced that Romero had agreed to a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA and is expected to compete in its light heavyweight division beginning in 2021.

In February 2021, it was announced that Romero would be competing in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament. He was scheduled to face Anthony Johnson in the quarterfinal round at Bellator 257 on April 16.

But unfortunately in March, it was announced that the fight would be moved to Bellator 258and later revealed that Yoel had failed his medicals due to an eye issue and the bout was pulled from the card, and the Grand Prix Tournament, being replaced by Jose Augusto. Jose went on to lose his fight against Anthony Rumble Johnson who has moved ahead in the tournament.

Before Bellator, Yoel was suffering a downfall in the UFC which was the reason for his departure from the UFC. Yoel will be debuting in Bellator while riding a three-fight losing streak.

While his opponent for his Bellator Debut Phil Davis is coming off a loss against the 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov. He lost in the opening round of the Bellator light heavyweight grand Prix at Bellator 257 in April. That loss also snapped his three-fight win streak. He will definitely be looking to spoil the welcome party of Yoel and get that big win.