Phil Davis got back on the winning track at Bellator 266 with a main event victory over Yoel Romero who was making his organizational debut.
Davis (23-6, one no-contest) earned a three-round unanimous decision against Romero five months after dropping a five-rounder to reigning light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov.
Romero (13-6) signed with Bellator this past December after parting ways with the UFC. This was his first fight in the 205-pound division in more than a decade.
The 44-year-old has now lost five of his past fix fights, all by decision, dating back to 2016. He hadn’t fought since a lacklustre split decision loss to Israel Adesanya in March of 2020.
Davis out-struck and out-grappled the Olympic silver medallist in wrestling en route to a judges’ decision.
By The Numbers
A vintage performance from the former world champion @PhilMrWonderful, who scores the split decision over @YoelRomeroMMA on @SHOsports. #Bellator266 pic.twitter.com/W1aWMWbKQz
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) September 19, 2021
Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Neiman Gracie used his hands to finish Mark Lemminger in less than 90 seconds in the co-main event. It was the first stoppage win of Gracie’s career that wasn’t a submission.
Below are the complete results from Bellator 266.
MAIN CARD
— Phil Davis def. Yoel Romero by unanimous decision
— Neiman Gracie def. Mark Lemminger by technical knockout
— DeAnna Bennett def. Alejandra Lara by unanimous decision
— Saul Rogers def. Georgi Karakhanyan by unanimous decision
— Ben Parrish def. Christian Edwards by knockout
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Alex Polizzi def. Grant Neal by split decision
— Anthony Adams def. Khalid Murtazaliev by unanimous decision
— Bobby Seronio III def. Socrates Hernandez by unanimous decision
— Abraham Vaesau def. Albert Gonzales by knockout
— Shane Keefe def. Rhalan Gracie by unanimous decision
— Edwin De Los Santos def. Jon Adams by technical knockout
— Jesse Delgado def. Joshua Dillon by unanimous decision
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