Just over six months after losing the Bellator Light Heavyweight championship against Vadim Nemkov at the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Final, number one ranked Corey Anderson is back in the cage to face fellow American and former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion Phil Davis. The two veterans ranked number one and two in the Bellator Light heavyweight rankings clash in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena on the main card of Bellator 297.
MMA: Bellator Light Heavyweight
Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Where to watch: Showtime
Date: 17.06.2023. 04.30
Corey Anderson
American Corey Anderson failed to takedown Vadim Nemkov in their November 2022 Grand Prix Final rematch leading to the Russian champion picking him apart to win by unanimous decision. Anderson was a freestyle wrestler in College and, from there, transitioned to MMA. He joined the nineteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2014, and at the Finale in July, he became the light heavyweight tournament winner with his 61-second first-round TKO of Matt Van Buren. He enjoyed a stellar career in the UFC, including wins over Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira, and Johnny Walker, before signing a contract with Bellator. Debuting in 2020, ”Overtime’s” only loss in the promotion was the setback against Nemkov.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 33
- Height: 6’ 3”
- Reach: 79”
- Record: 16-6-1 (no contest)
Phil Davis
The 38-year-old American fighter has the most wins in the Bellator light heavyweight division. He has lost three times in the promotion, twice against Vadim Nemkov and once against Ryan Bader. Debuting in Bellator in 2015 from UFC, he won the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship the next year, although he promptly lost the title defense to Ryan Bader. He is on a two-fight win streak coming into this fight after going the distance in a loss to Vadim Nemkov at the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal in 2021.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 38
- Height: 6’ 2”
- Reach: 79”
- Record: 24-6
Betting Odds
Corey Anderson is the favorite of the sportsbooks, with a price of 1.58 odds on 1XBET. Phil Davis is the underdog at 2.368 odds, also on 1XBET. On Coinplay, over 1.5 rounds is available for 1.36 odds, while the under is 2.79. On Bet365, the favorite is 1.57 to win, while Phil Davis is 2.45 odds to win.
