More trouble is brewing in the PFL, as a second fight involving Vadim Nemkov for January’s Road to Dubai card appears to have fallen through.
A few weeks back, Nemkov was announced as facing Ante Delija at the Champions Series (it appears the Bellator name has been dropped) event. Almost immediately, multiple sources came forward to state that Delija was recovering from surgery.
Then, just days back, promotion officials announced a new co-main event for the January 25, 2025 card in Dubai: Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson. The fight would be contested at heavyweight, where Nemkov recently moved, and would close out their trilogy.
That match-up made all the sense in the world, but it seems it’s not to be. At least according to Anderson, who says the PFL has told him that Nemkov wants a “lesser” opponent for his return.
“Fights off an according to Bellator/PFL Nemkov was being a crybaby about the fight. They agreed then declined because I’m “too tough of a fight,” wrote Anderson on social media, encouraging doubters to “fact check me!!”
“But wai!! There’s more, he wants to stay on the card, but wants to fight a lesser opponent… Last time we fought, his cameraman said I was easy work and didn’t deserve to fight him again… then, after I earned it, his cameraman then said he was now too big to fight LHW [light heavyweight].”
Anderson went on to question what the excuse was now, tagging Nemkov’s cameraman and pointing out that he was moving to heavyweight to make the fight happen. “I come to HWT and yall still running from the fight…”
Anderson finished by suggesting Nemkov be pulled from the rankings, adding “scared money don’t make no money!”
Corey Anderson won Bellator’s vacant light heavyweight title back in March, and has not fought since. Nemkov, who previously held the title, vacated it in January to move up to heavyweight. The pair’s first meeting, part of Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix, ended in a No Contest due to an accidental headbutt. Nemkov claimed victory in their second meeting.
Promotion officials have yet to comment on the situation.
