Scouting Report: Vadim Nemkov

Vadim Nemkov

Born: June 20, 1992 (Age: 30) in Belgorod, Russia
Division: Light Heavyweight
Height: 6’0”
Reach: 76”
Record: 15-2, 1 NC (8-0, 1 NC Bellator)
Association: Alexander Nevsky
Stage of Career: Prime

Summary: Nemkov is a huge threat as a striker and a grappler while being exceptionally difficult to exploit in either area. He has fast hands and a fantastic jab and right cross, which he nails opponents again and again with a 1-2. He also has quick, technical kicks to all parts of the body and has even stopped an opponent with leg kicks. He also has excellent defense, being exceptionally hard to hit, and a fairly tough chin and good recuperative powers in the rare times that occurs. He is a beast with his grappling, able to get takedowns from the clinch or shot with ease against most opponents. Once an opponent is grounded, he unleashes some of the best ground-and-pound in MMA history, obliterating foes with a series of fast, powerful, accurate punches at a ridiculous rate of fire. He is now almost impossible to take down, even by some of the best wrestlers in MMA history. Nemkov isn't perfect; he sorely lacks a left hook, his uppercut isn't much to worry about, and his top control is limited. However, he is still improving, with a former weakness, his 5-round cardio, now a significant strength as of the Anderson rematch, able to fight energetically for all 25 minutes. Nemkov is one of the best fighters in the world and only getting better.

STRIKING

• Stance: Orthodox.
• Hand Speed: Above average.
• Jab: A darting, quick, straight and technical strike.
• Cross: Surgical, precise and textbook shot with legitimate knockout power. He turned off Philipe Lins’ lights with it.
• Left Hook: Weak. Often a harmless arm punch.
• Overhand Right: Tends toward being an overly wild casting punch, but he does not use it much.
• Uppercuts: Average at best. He often throws it way too far in front of his body, and it lacks some power.
• Solitary Striker or Volume Puncher: More of a one-shot sniper, but he makes good use of the combinations he throws.
• Favorite Combinations: The one-two, which combines his two best punches.
• Leg Kicks: Well-timed, hard and fast. He stopped Liam McGeary with them.
• Body Kicks: Solid, especially the front kick to the body.
• Head Kicks: Shows nice flexibility, suddenness and speed with them, but they lack the kill-shot power to make them truly special.
• Chains Kicks to Punches: Occasionally.

Nemkov’s striking provides intrigue. He has fairly fast hands, a strong jab and an outstanding right cross, which he puts together into a highly effective and accurate one-two. He also has an array of nice kicks, including front kicks, and uses lighter shots to bait opponents forward. Nemkov can chain kicks to punches, go upstairs with head kicks and even stop opponents with leg kicks. However, he lacks a left hook. It is his weakest punch, and he does not event put his body into it at times. His uppercuts are also lacking. However, Nemkov features textbook footwork, excellent ring movement and generally outstanding defense, including a good sense of range and head movement. He is quite difficult to hit.

CLINCH

• Physical Strength: A massively powerful light heavyweight who can outmuscle almost anyone in the weight class.
• Technique: Stellar. Quick at positioning his body and going for possible takedowns.
• Knees: A viable weapon, but he mostly focuses on takedowns.
• Elbows: Does not throw them in close quarters.
• Defense Against Knees/Elbows: Any opponent who throws them runs the risk of being taken down.

Nemkov is beastly in terms of physical strength and grappling in the clinch. He works for judo throws there, and opponents would be wise to defend themselves rather than looking for their own offense.

GRAPPLING

• Wrestling from a Shot: Features a technical double-leg on reaction to an opponent’s strikes, along with an outstanding single-leg.
• Wrestling in the Clinch: Works for judo throws and trips, and he normally gets them.
• Takedown Defense: All-time great; able to quickly switch to fighting for underhooks no matter the situation, even turning defense into offense by taking Liam McGeary down off his own attempt. Has fought a slew of all-time great wrestlers, and managed to nullify Phil Davis and Ryan Bader, and even Corey Anderson in the rematch, one of the best wrestlers in MMA history.
• Ability to Return to Feet: Serviceable under most circumstances, as he is able to hip escape and use his physical strength to get back up. However, an opponent with good top control late enough into a fight when Nemkov is tired can keep him down, as the first Anderson fight proved.
• Submissions: Sound. He scored a rear-naked choke on Rafael Carvalho, but he prioritizes ground-and-pound, so the depth of his tool bag is difficult to judge.
• Defense/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the Bottom: Holds up to scrutiny, though Anderson managed to score against him from the top.
• Top Control: Often limited, especially since he postures up so much to strike.
• Ground-and-Pound: Rises to a world-class level. He throws a series of fast, brutal, hammer-like punches with volume and accuracy. Nemkov has knocked out multiple opponents on the mat, some of them quickly. See: Alison Vicente.

Nemkov is an absolute monster of a grappler. Very few opponents can resist his wrestling, as he can attain takedowns with ease from either a shot or in the clinch. Once on top, he lacks some top control, but an opponent had better use that, as he has some of the best ground-and-pound the sport has ever seen, a vicious series of fast punches that seemingly never end, and have finished many opponents. Defensively, he is one of the hardest fighters in MMA to take down, having fought a slew of outstanding wrestlers like Phil Davis twice, Ryan Bader and Corey Anderson twice, with only Anderson having some success in their first encounter, but none in the rematch. Once on the bottom, he can absorb some ground-and-pound if he doesn't have enough energy to get back up, though.

INTANGIBLES

• Athleticism/General Physical Strength: A fast, athletic and massively strong fighter.
• Cardio: Excellent, with significant improvement in the Anderson rematch, now able to fight well for all 5 rounds.
• Chin: He has taken some massive shots without being knocked out, though he was clearly hurt.
• Recuperative Powers: A positive to this point. He managed to recover fairly quickly after eating a crushing blow from Julius Anglickas.
• Intelligence: Conducts all of his fights in a smart, patient manner, all while executing some brilliant set-ups. He always seems to maximize his chances while limiting the strategic efforts of his opponents.