Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sporting activities Illustrated’s in-depth glimpse at MMA. Each individual 7 days, this column gives perception and details on the most noteworthy tales in the struggle earth.
A new contender for the heavyweight title has emerged in Bellator.
Vadim Nemkov, the reigning gentle heavyweight winner, put forth a different decisive exhibiting two months back, this time towards Yoel Romero at Bellator 297.
The freshly anointed No. 1 fighter in Bellator’s pound-for-pound rankings, Nemkov (17–2, 1 NC) has bulldozed by means of the light heavyweight division. His future conquest is to adhere to in the footsteps of mentor Fedor Emelianenko and get the heavyweight title.
“It’s something to explore with my workforce, to see if the time to do it is now,” states Nemkov, talking by way of a translator. “As I get older, it gets extra challenging to slice weight. I sense so much extra effective when I prepare at a heavyweight body weight.”
The recent heavyweight champ is Ryan Bader, who Nemkov, 31, defeated for the light heavyweight belt 3 summers back. Since then, Bader has defeated Emelianenko for a next time, as very well as scored a victory from Valentin Moldavsky, a teammate of Nemkov’s. The likelihood to acquire the heavyweight belt—and dethrone Bader, who brought on problems for his team—is a believed that has crossed Nemkov’s brain.
“I’m combating not only for myself, but also for my staff,” states Nemkov. “If we battle, I have to conquer him. No make any difference what.”
Nemkov, who has not misplaced a combat because April 2016, looked dominant two months ago at Bellator 297 in Chicago. He received by unanimous choice, controlling all 5 rounds of the bout in opposition to Romero (15–7).
“Everything went according to approach,” claims Nemkov. “Honestly, I was astonished by how potent his head is and how great his chin is. By the fifth round, he experienced almost nothing to get rid of, so he was hoping to knock me out with one particular blow. I was arranging to be speedier, and I was.”
The victory marked the fourth consecutive defense of his gentle heavyweight title, a new report in the division. It also elevated Nemkov to the top of Bellator’s pound-for-pound rankings, an accolade he is very pleased to have attained.
“All the tough do the job is shelling out off,” claims Nemkov. “I’m symbolizing Fedor’s group, so it signifies a great deal to have a person from Fedor’s workforce rank to start with in the pound-for-pound.”
Adhering to the win from Romero, Nemkov celebrated in style. He brought his spouse on a speedy excursion to New York, where by they loved his birthday.
“We enjoyed some good steaks and the firm of our pals,” says Nemkov. “Then I went back again to Chicago, and then we went back again to Russia.
“Now I will speak with my workforce, and we will make a choice about what will come up coming.”
Michael Chandler are unable to afford to pay for to let bout slip absent from Conor McGregor
McGregor’s getting rid of streak on this season of The Greatest Fighter attained five on this week’s episode.
Does not it feel like defeat will also abide by McGregor into the cage?
5 weeks in, The Greatest Fighter has captured the fighting spirit of equally McGregor and Chandler. 1 is thoroughly centered and immersed on what is going on in the cage, while the other has a myriad on his plate away from preventing (as properly as even additional really serious allegations since the clearly show filmed).
If this struggle at any time usually takes area, and it is hunting more and far more possible it will have to be in 2024, then Chandler ought to be favored to win. He is hungry and hunting for a victory that will elevate him to a full new degree. McGregor has none of that at stake in this bout.
This feels equivalent to Amanda Nunes’s battling Ronda Rousey in December 2016. Although Chandler is unlikely to start off the otherworldly extend Nunes did soon after that combat, it would certainly provide him to a complete new degree of accomplishment, like it did for Nunes. And it quite nicely could be the starting of the conclusion for McGregor in the cage.
Chandler desires to keep combating to make absolutely sure this bout requires location. A job-defining earn is at stake.
Justin Barrasso can be arrived at at [email protected]. Adhere to him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
