Vadim Nemkokov and Corey Anderson closed out the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship at Bellator 277.
The Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix is closing after a tournament that saw a lot of chaos. However, somehow, two senior players were left standing. Ultimately, contender and number one contender Cory Anderson made his way to the finals against champion and fellow undefeated Bellator Vadim Nemkov. The two men will collide in a semi-main at Bellator 277.
The winner of this fight is not only undefeated in the promotion but wins the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, $1 Million, and will win or retain the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship.
So who will come out with the belt, the pulverizing wrestler in Anderson, or the hybrid student Fedor Emelianenko in Nemkov?
lets take alook.
Corey Anderson vs Vadim Nemkov broke in Bellator 277
Anderson skated through the competition at the Bellator, making his debut against the always-challenging Melvin Manhoef, defeating the lesser-known Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in the opening round of the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, then taking down Bellator Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader to secure a place in the finals. He finished all three by TKO, after wrestling them to the floor and grinding them into a paste.
However, Nemkov was not the same fighter Anderson was used to. He’s a Sambo fighting master and has a history of taking people out with his punch. We also know that Nemkov doesn’t let fights drag on, with only five fights going into the third or subsequent round. Anderson is as likely to try to win through decision as he is to try to finish the match, and that may work in Nemkov’s favour. Anderson became so happy in Bellator that if he tried to stand and swing with Nemkov, Nemkov might be better suited to this kind of confrontation.
However, if Anderson tries to prepare his wrestling with his hit, as he is prone to do, Nemkov may have to match him to the floor, as well as attempt to fight from under. This isn’t a position Nemkov is used to, as he doesn’t come down easily.
This might very well turn out to be an ugly ghost on all levels, as neither man seems to be getting carried away much. Nemkov is a better striker on his feet, so you can totally expect him to go for some home hits. If he gets one, with Anderson’s history of being KO/TKO’ed, it might be all she wrote.
I expect Anderson to catch a breath in the second after failing to take down Nemkov, getting stuck with a leg in his head to the end.
winner: Vadim Nemkov
Bellator 277: AJ McKee vs. Patricio Pitbull 2 takes place Friday, April 15, 2022, live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Follow along with our onsite FanSided MMA for all the news and highlights.
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