Corey Anderson did not see this coming.
In 2022, Anderson had a set of considerable bouts with Vadim Nemkov for the Bellator light heavyweight title. In the very first, he controlled the bout before an unintended head butt stopped the bout and caused a no-contest. In a rematch 7 months later on, Nemkov out-pointed Anderson to maintain the title.
When Anderson took a split choice win over Phil Davis last June, “Overtime” believed he ‘d punched his ticket to a trilogy bout. Rather, Nemkov formally abandoned the Bellator light heavyweight title to go up to heavyweight, and Anderson was entirely captured off guard.
“Yes, 100 percent,” Anderson informed The MMA Hour when asked if he was amazed by Nemkov’s choice. “Especially with the method the very first battle ended. He beat me the 2nd time, however if any person can be truthful with yourself, you saw that very first battle. It was a domino effect. If I didn’t complete you before I informed the ref I head-butted you– I was most likely going to take you down and complete you in the next round. He was practically a fish out of water on the ground at that point.
“So I believed for sure a 3rd battle, and why would not you? You make champion cash, and now you’ve got to return and simply be a competitor. I understand how the agreements work, and I make sure his works the very same: if you do not have a title, you do not make almost as much. I keep informing individuals, why is he preventing the battle? Frightened cash do not earn money. He does not wish to seize the day to run the risk of getting beat the 3rd time, so he simply quit his belt and [went] to eliminate someone else.”
Nemkov will now battle previous PFL heavyweight champ Bruno Cappelozza in a non-title primary card bout at the PFL vs. Bellator: CHAMPS card, which occurs on Feb. 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
To Anderson, that option simply shows Nemkov is terrified to run it back.
“I believe so. I believe so,” Anderson stated when asked if he truly believes Nemkov is terrified. “He did an interview after the battle, and when they asked him, ‘What did you think of the battle in between Corey and Phil [Davis]’ His translator stated he was hoping Phil won, or something like that, so he might battle Phil a 3rd time. Then when he did an interview, he stated he didn’t desire to combat at 205 any longer. ‘Well, I feel it’s time for me to go to another weight due to the fact that I’ve currently beaten these guys. I do not wish to combat the exact same guys any longer. There’s absolutely nothing left I can show at 205.’
“Well, when I beat Phil, you stated you wanted Phil won so you might combat him a 3rd time. Now, a couple months later on– at the time, Bellator had actually currently talked to both of us and stated we were combating Nov.[»19659009]…
Find out more
