Why champ Vadim Nemkov is happy Yoel Romero fight was delayed to Bellator 297

CHICAGO – Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov believed his initial booking with Yoel Romero was too quick of a turnaround.

Nemkov (16-2 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) was scheduled to defend his title against Romero (15-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) at Bellator 290 in February – less than three months after winning the promotion’s grand prix final against Corey Anderson.

Nemkov ended up withdrawing due to injury, and the pair have been rebooked for Friday’s Bellator 297 headliner at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

“I’m actually happy that this fight is happening (Friday) since I have the previous fight and the time between these two fights would have been very short,” Nemkov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter. “So right now I have more time to prepare properly.

“I had more time to prepare myself and be in better shape this time. When you’re preparing for a fight that goes five rounds, five minutes each, you have to prepare harder, and you have to have more time to get prepared. This is why it’s very hard to fight every three months for five-round fights.”

Nemkov, a Sambo champion, will be taking on Olympic silver medalist wrestler Romero. But based on what he’s seen from Romero recently, he expects a stand-up battle.

“We both can wrestle, and we both can strike,” Nemkov said. “But I watched the last couple of fights from him, and I know myself. It’s probably not gonna be too much wrestling in this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 297.