Yoel Romero vs. Phil Davis set to headline Bellator’s return to San Jose in September

Yoel Romero’s Bellator debut has a new date and location.

Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that a light heavyweight matchup between Romero and Phil Davis will headline Bellator’s Sept. 18 event in San Jose, Calif. MMA reporter Ariel Helwani was first to report the booking.

Romero was initially scheduled to make his promotional debut at May’s Bellator 258 event after not clearing pre-fight medical testing, which was later confirmed to be an eye issue. “Soldier of God” has since been cleared to compete, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed to MMA Junkie on Thursday.

The 44-year-old, currently tied for 10th in MMA Fighting’s middleweight global rankings, will look to snap a three-fight skid—decision losses to Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya—and pick up his first victory since a February 2018 knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 222.

Davis recently had his three-fight winning streak halted by 205-pound champion Vadim Nemkov in the opening round of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix at Bellator 257 in April. Heading into the contest, Davis—tied for 11th in MMA Fighting’s global rankings—earned stoppage wins over Liam McGeary and Karl Albrektsson, as well as a split decision victory over Lyoto Machida in December at Bellator 245.