Outside Source
Vadim Nemkov (right) is a protégé of Pride FC icon Fedor Emelianenko (left). | 📷: PFL MMA
Vadim Nemkov once again finds himself in a high-profile championship fight.
The decorated Russian will do battle with Renan Ferreira for the inaugural Professional Fighters League heavyweight title in the PFL Lyon headliner on Saturday at LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. Nemkov held Bellator MMA gold from 2020 to 2023, then went on to post victories in his first two bouts under the PFL banner. The showdown with Ferreira gives him the chance to close out his latest campaign on the highest of notes.
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“I’m great, ready for this fight, and the camp went well,” Nemkov told Sherdog.com. “I’m waiting for the fight. I want to go out there and perform, win the belt and be active [defending] it next year. Of course, it helps getting this fight at the end of the year. I hope that if I win the title this year, the next year with the title, I would like to be as active as possible.”
Nemkov did not hesitate to credit Ferreira. The 6-foot-8 Brazilian has established himself as one of the most intimidating physical forces in the sport.
“I’m excited for this fight against him,” Nemkov said. “I believe he is one of the best heavyweight fighters on the planet. I’m glad to face such a fighter. It’s hard not to recognize him as a good fighter. He was [the super fights] champion of the PFL. He is huge for the heavyweight division, and there is no denying that he is very strong. I’ve been getting ready for five rounds, but I’d like to finish early. I’m always ready for it, no matter how it goes.”
Nemkov has excelled as both a heavyweight and light heavyweight, but at this stage of his career, the 33-year-old Fedor Emelianenko protégé has no plans to return to 205 pounds.
“I decided I’m going to stay in the heavyweight division,” he said. “Weightlifting is fun for me, so I feel good in the heavyweight division. There are a lot of fights that I’m interested in, and I don’t have to go to light heavyweight or cut weight in order to make any of the big fights happen.”
With the PFL moving away from the tournament format, Nemkov wants to lay claim to the heavyweight title and put together a historic reign at the top of the division. “First of all, I would like to win the belt and make as many title defenses as possible,” he said. “I’d also like to have fighters with big names, and therefore, I’m ready to fight with every single one of these fighters.” The change should open more opportunities for newcomers and veterans alike. Nemkov much prefers the company’s new approach.
“Of course, I like it more because the grand prix slowed down the development of athletes,” he said. “Someone who doesn’t participate in the grand prix didn’t have the opportunity to fight and perform, and the fighters who lost in the first round of the grand prix were also waiting for the opportunity to fight. Now, all fighters have a chance to fight more, and it makes us all happy.”
* Editor’s note: Sherdog contributor Mike Pendleton is a frequent guest on PFL executive Jonathan Coachman’s betting podcast “Coach and Company.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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