Vadim Nemkov vs Corey Anderson: A case where you can risk betting on the underdog

On April 16, the Bellator 277 tournament will take place. In the co-main event, Russian fighter Vadim Nemkov will defend his bantamweight title against American Corey Anderson.

The fight will be at the same time as the Grand Prix final, where the winner will receive $1,000,000.

Nemkov has yet to lose in Bellator, is currently on a streak of nine straight wins, and is widely regarded as one of the best featherweights in the world regardless of the promotion. Of those nine victories, he has won seven early, most by knockout.

But do not assume that Vadim is just a very good puncher. He is a good fighter too, when it comes to wrestling he can defend himself, but in his last fight, for example, he won by submissions. He could fight Julius Anglickas time and time again because it was to his advantage in this case.

The Russian fighter does not consider Corey Anderson the strongest opponent of his career and says he will be ready for any surprises the American has in store for him.

In the fights Corey has had in Bellator, he has shown he fights well, but he has shown little punching - the fight with Bader is not an indicator. He just got in. I fought Ryan Bader before that. He’s a good fighter and was knocked out by me. Phil Davis is also a good fighter - I’ve fought and boxed with him. So, I’m not afraid of fighting Corey Anderson. As a basic sambo wrestler, I can fight both stand-up and ground. I don’t see any potential problems that Corey Anderson can give me.

Vadim Nemkov

Anderson came to Bellator from the UFC, where, for a second, he was ranked number five. He was an elite fighter back then and seems to have gotten even better here. In Bellator, Corey had three fights and won all three by TKO. His first two opponents could be called easy pickings (Manhoef and Yagshimuradov), but in the semi-final, Grand Prix Anderson knocked out not someone, but Ryan Bader in 51 seconds of the fight.

That my previous opponents had. He’s got some great leg kicks. He’s quick and powerful with his leg kicks to the head, just like Ovince St. Preux. In the fight with Ovince St. Preux, I didn’t notice the leg kick, so I ended up knocked out. He has quick hands like Jimi Manuwa. He has good counter-attacks and combination work like Tom Lawlor. I wouldn’t say Nemkov is a great fighter, but he has excellent skills in that aspect as well, and he also has good early wins on the ground, so I would call him a well-rounded fighter.

Corey Anderson

Nemkov’s task is to crush his opponent in the first rounds, not to repeat Petr Yan‘s mistakes, and if he cannot finish, to draw all the veins out of him. If the fight drags on, Corey will be happy. The championship rounds are his territory.

Anderson has a serious size advantage, which will help him on the counter, but on the ground, he’s capable of laying down, tightening up, and all that. He won’t be in any hurry, and you can’t take this fight as an easy walk for Nemkov as the bookies do. Once again, if Vadim doesn’t put Anderson down in the first half of the fight, then anything can happen afterwards, and the judges, if it’s more or less even, will count in favor of the American, of course.

Corey used to come to my sparring sessions, he helped me in my training. And I know Vadim too - I fought with him. I think in this fight the odds are 50 to 50. But if the fight drags on, Corey Anderson is very strong.

Magomed Ankalaev

Analysts see the Russian fighter as a big favorite (the odds are 1.53), and the odds on Anderson are frankly overpriced - 2.55.

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