Vadim
Nemkov didn’t get too much time to savor his light heavyweight
grand prix victory over Corey
Anderson at Bellator 288.
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After all, it had already been announced that Yoel Romero
would be next in line to challenge for light heavyweight gold prior
to Bellator 288 this past weekend. Nemkov vs. Romero will serve as
the co-main event for Bellator 290 on Feb. 4.
“I didn’t know it was gonna be such a quick turnaround,” Nemkov
admitted through a translator at the Bellator 288 post-fight press
conference. “That’s what it is, so I’m gonna get home, spend a
little time with my family, heal up a little bit and start getting
ready.”
The 45-year-old Romero was already in the UFC by the time Nemkov
made his professional debut. “The Soldier of God” twice challenged
for middleweight gold in the Octagon before parting ways with the
Las Vegas-based promotion to sign with Bellator MMA. After falling
to Phil
Davis in his promotional debut, Romero has rebounded to post
back-to-back KO/TKO victories against Alex
Polizzi and Melvin
Manhoef.
“I watched him fight when I was just starting off,” Nemkov said of
Romero. “I remember his fights and now I get a chance to fight him,
so it’s definitely an honor.”
Perhaps the greatest opportunity for Nemkov is the chance to fight
at the event that will feature Fedor
Emelianenko’s farewell, a heavyweight title rematch against
Ryan
Bader. Not only that, but the card will be broadcast on CBS, so
there’s a chance that the FedorTeam product’s bout will reach a
larger audience than usual.
“I’m very honored to be on the same card as Fedor, especially on
such a large platform that’s going to be viewed by millions of
people around the world,” Nemkov said. “It’s a great opportunity
for me to showcase that Fedor’s MMA school [is] world class. I can
really show what mixed martial arts evolution is like from
there.”