
Former Bellator light heavyweight champ Vadim Nemkov continued his journey as a heavyweight at Satuday’s PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai card, facing off with former UFC and Bellator vet Tim Johnson.
An early offensive by Nemkov saw the former 205lb champ graze Johnson’s dome with a head kick. More than graze, as Johnson appeared to have been cut. Johnson answered back with his hands; Nemkov went back to the well with a head kick moments later.
Russia’s Nemkov, a student of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, on hand for the fight, secured the first takedown of the fight less than two minutes in. When Johnson fought his way back to his feet, Nemkov was there to drag him down once more. Again, Johnson returned to the fence, Nemkov still draped across his back, looking to sweep the foot of the larger man. He did just that, but couldn’t get Johnson fully down. Still, the grappling saw Nemkov threatening to take the back, one foot in. Then another, and soon enough, Vadim Nemkov had fully mounted Johnson’s back, both hooks in, and slipped an arm under the neck.
The tap was little more than a formality, giving Russia’s Nemkov his second straight victory as a heavyweight since vacating his Bellator MMA 205lb title after a record-setting four defenses.
For all the chaos ahead of Nemkov vs. Johnson – Vadim was first booked against an injured Ante Delija, then declined another fight with Corey Anderson on short notice – it was a dominant performance, and one that might put him in the running for a PFL heavyweight run, or even a super-fight with Francis Ngannou.
Official Result: Vadim Nemkov def. Tim Johnson by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:08