Take two.
Former UFC middleweight title contender Yoel Romero will make his long-awaited Bellator debut against Phil Davis, another former UFC contender, on Sept. 18 in San Jose, Calif., per sources.
Romero, 44, was slated to debut for the promotion in the first round of their light heavyweight tournament against Anthony Johnson in May, but he was forced to withdraw due to a medical issue concerning his eye.
Bellator president Scott Coker told MMAJunkie.com on Thursday that Romero had been medically cleared.
Romero (13-5) signed with Bellator in mid-December after a seven-year run with the UFC. He last fought in March 2020 when he lost a middleweight title fight to champion Israel Adesanya. He parted ways with the company in early December.
Davis (22-6, 1 NC), a former Bellator light heavyweight champion, is coming of a unanimous decision loss to Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov in the first round of the Bellator 205-pound tournament in April.
Romero vs. Davis will take place at 205 pounds but won’t be a tournament fight. It will serve as the main event for the first Bellator card in San Jose, the promotion’s home base, since September 2019.
Bellator is back tonight with a card headlined by Gegard Mousasi (c) vs. John Salter for the middleweight title. Raufeon Stots vs. Magomed Magomedov is another fight to look out for on that card.
Hoping Romero can make a big splash jumping into Bellator. He’s reason enough to tune in for the promotion.
Gotta wonder if Bellator has a tinge of regret signing Romero after not being able to book the Anthony Johnson fight. Maybe it all works out, but there was heat at that moment that may not return, especially if Father Time finally catches up with the 44 year old.