The anticipated Bellator light heavyweight showdown between champion Vadim Nemkov and Cuban striker Yoel Romero at Bellator 290 was scratched from the schedule. The bout, which had been set for February 4, 2023, was postponed without a new date and no official reason for the delay was disclosed to the public.
Across his MMA career, Nemkov has built a substantial ledger, logging 18 professional appearances with 15 victories and two defeats. In the tournament headliner on November 19, the 30-year-old Russian fought with measured precision to secure a unanimous decision against American challenger Corey Anderson. That win solidified Nemkov as the promotion’s light heavyweight titleholder, capped a grand prix campaign, and carried a prize of $1 million to the winner’s circle.
Romero’s last appearance occurred in September 2022, when he delivered a first-class finish against Dutch veteran Melvin Manhoef, stopping him in the third round. The bout at Bellator 290 would have represented a high-stakes clash between two seasoned veterans, each bringing a distinct mix of experience and striking prowess to the cage.
There was also a notable moment surrounding Nemkov during Bellator 288 in Chicago, when a fan ended up receiving a commemorative gift card in recognition of the triumph. Nemkov recalled the moment, noting that a hotel departure had occurred a little earlier than planned and that one of the cheering fans had stepped forward with the request. The exchange left the fighter with a keepsake that symbolized the event and the earnings attached to it. The fighter also mentioned that the plaque bearing his name and the earnings total would remain as a personal memento in the United States, serving as a tangible reminder of his journey and the year’s battles.
While the immediate future of the Nemkov-Romero pairing remains uncertain, fans can look back at Nemkov’s sustained competitiveness and combat IQ across multiple rounds, as well as Romero’s lethal hands and relentless pace. The cancellation does not erase the momentum built by Nemkov or the anticipation that a rematch would ignite among supporters who have followed Bellator’s light heavyweight division closely. The event’s postponement leaves a gap in the calendar, but the broader arc of Nemkov’s reign and Romero’s continued search for a title run persists in the sport’s ongoing narrative. In the months that followed, observers and analysts continued to evaluate potential routes for both fighters, weighing factors like reach, timing, and the evolving landscape of Bellator’s competitive lineup.