Vadim Nemkov is not backing away from the comparison of his friend, Fedor Emelianenko. In fact, as he prepares to defending his light heavyweight title at Bellator 297, Nemkov is embracing carrying on his legacy.
Bellator 297: Vadim Nemkov Ready For Yoel Romero
Reigning light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov will defend his title against Yoel Romero this Friday night in the main event of Bellator 297. The event takes place from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, airing live on Showtime.
The 30-year-old has drawn comparisons to Fedor Emelianenko. And while some might shy away from that, Nemkov has embraced it.
He first captured the Bellator title in 2020 with a finish of Ryan Bader, scoring defenses over Phil Davis, Julius Anglickas and Corey Anderson since.
Fedor Trains Nemkov, Has Him Ready For Fight Night
As a close pupil of Emelianenko’s, Nemkov has shown many of the same skills that made “The Last Emperor” one of the top heavyweights in the world.
He is 16-2 overall with 10 wins by knockout and two more via submission.
“I want to continue Fedor’s legacy because we are both from Stary Oskol,” Nemkov said. “I want to continue his legacy and the success of his students. Hopefully, I will continue to be a good student and remain champion.”
Earlier this year, Nemkov signed a new fight contract with Bellator. He was scheduled to meet Romero in February, but bowed out for undisclosed reasons.
“We both can wrestle, and we both can strike,” Nemkov said. “I watched the last couple of fights of his, and I know myself, so I don’t expect a lot of wrestling. Since it’s a very serious opponent and for five rounds, I’m hoping to finish it earlier. But I’m ready for five rounds.”
Chicago Has Become A Second Home For Champion
This will mark the second consecutive fight for Nemkov in Chicago, and he is embracing the town.
He scored a one-sided decision over Anderson back at Bellator 288 in November, pushing his unbeaten streak to 11 fights.
“I love Chicago,” he said. “The fans over here are very nice, and it’s a beautiful city. So, I love to fight here.”
