Bruno Cappelozza vs Vadim Nemkov
Since winning the Bellator light-heavyweight title from Ryan Bader in 2020, Fedor Emelianenko protégé Vadim Nemkov has only increased the confidence of those who call him the best 205er in the world with his five title defenses, including over former UFC top contenders Yoel Romero, Corey Anderson, and Phil Davis. Nemkov’s skillful blend of striking and wrestling has stymied all who have faced him in Bellator; in fact he has not lost for eight years, since he was 23 years old, and his only loss which was not by split decision was to future UFC champion Jiri Prochazka in a scrambly, action-packed battle in RIZIN.
In Vadim’s first foray into the heavyweight division he will take on slugger Bruno Cappelozza, PFL’s 2021 HW champion and their ‘Fight of the Year’ winner that season. Cappelozza has only one career victory which was not by finish, and you guessed it, that was the aforementioned ‘Fight of the Year’ in the 2021 tournament finale against future champ and Mirko Cro Cop protégé Ante Delija. It is a stiff test for Nemkov. Despite his flaws, Cappelozza figures to be significantly bigger than the Russian and have much more power. Technical wizardry will compete against brute strength as these champions battle it out for heavyweight supremacy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a city which is growing used to that sort of fight.
