“Vadim surpasses Corey in everything”: Sidelnikov about the Nemkov-Anderson fight, visa difficulties and performances in Russia

- On the night of April 16, Vadim Nemkov will fight Corey Anderson in the final of the Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.

How was the training camp?

- Vadim began to prepare for this fight a long time ago.

The date of the fight was constantly changing, although no one announced this.

At first they said that it would take place in February, then it was about March, and in the end it was scheduled for April.

And all this time, Nemkov kept himself in shape, trained, which is quite difficult for such a long time.

But Vadim is a great professional.

He approaches every fight in perfect shape.

He can never be reproached for the lack of diligence, for the desire to mess up.

In this regard, Nemkov is a real champion, a plowman.

What were the transfers about?

Only management knows.

We were not informed about this.

This often happens in mixed martial arts.

First, one date is called, then everything can change repeatedly.

- As far as I understand, Nemkov, together with the

- Recently, we prefer to prepare in the Olympic complex.

There are ideal conditions, there are halls for weightlifting and athletics, boxing, there is a swimming pool.

In addition, this is a middle mountain, which has a positive effect on the endurance of an athlete.

- Can you remember your worst training camp?

Where did they go and what was wrong?

“Now most of the complexes are in good condition.

All the necessary conditions for training have been created.

I would call the base in Feodosia a little inconvenient.

It was built during the Soviet era and has not changed much since that time.

There was no repair in the premises, problems with water still exist and are not being solved.

Although the room itself is good.

- Returning to Vadim... As far as I understand, all the people from the Fedor Team took part in his preparation for the fight with Anderson.

Who did Nemkov spar with especially often before the fight with Anderson?

- For joint training, Vadim chose a person most similar in anthropometry to Anderson.

Closest of all was his brother Victor.

Therefore, the Nemkovs most often worked in pairs.

But this was not all.

Indeed, the whole team worked for him.

Depending on the goal and the desire of the fighter himself, the opponent could change.

For example, if it was necessary to work with Valentin Moldavsky, then he went out.

- Therefore, it was Viktor Nemkov who imitated Anderson?

- Yes.

But you need to understand that before the training camp the whole team tries to thoroughly study the future opponent and work in his manner.

For example, at certain moments, pass to the feet or throw out the right cross.

This is done so that Vadim gradually gets used to it.

What can you say about Anderson?

- Personally, I did not consider him a strong opponent.

I didn’t think that he would reach the finals, because there were stronger fighters in that subgroup.

His success took me by surprise.

Perhaps I underestimate Anderson a little, but only because of the confidence in Nemkov's success.

I think Corey is a match for him.

And this fight will not be the most difficult for Vadim, not only in his career, but also as part of the Grand Prix.

When I found out the names of the tournament participants, I considered Phil Davis to be the favorite along with Nemkov.

This is a very viscous, uncomfortable fighter.

Anderson's plus is that he has a powerful single blow that can decide the outcome of the fight.

But Vadim surpasses him in everything - "physics", endurance, has a richer technical arsenal.

- If you take all the opponents in Nemkov's career, what place would you put Anderson in?

- He's in the top five.

But even though I don’t consider him such a strong fighter, Anderson still has a lot of experience.

He competed in the UFC, fought with eminent fighters.

But, in my subjective opinion, he is weaker than Vadim.

Perhaps I just support Nemkov very much and wish him victory.

- I understand correctly that you put Anderson below Davis.

What about Ryan Bader and Julius Anglickas?

— Anglickas is lower.

He entered the fight with Vadim having a good record, a high number in the rating.

But it falls a little short of the tops.

Bader is clearly taller.

Still, this is a champion in two weight categories, who defeated Fedor Emelianenko and Valentin Moldavsky.

- And if you take the same Karl Albrektsson, who previously took precedence over both Nemkov brothers?

- In fact, Albrektsson is a very underrated fighter.

He is not taken seriously, but he is an unpleasant opponent.

If he were among the participants in the Grand Prix, many would spoil the blood.

But Anderson is still more interesting.

- During his performances in the UFC, Corey was considered, although quite strong, but not a stellar light heavyweight.

He fought rather unspectacularly, most of the victories were won by decision.

But in Bellator three times in a row he won by knockout.

Was Corey himself changed or was the level of opposition less strong?

“It seems to me that a lot comes from the head.

When moving to a less hyped promotion, he felt overconfident.

And it was this mental attitude that helped him succeed in the first fights.

At the same time, some of his rivals, on the contrary, could act more cautiously because of this.

Yet in front of them is an ex-UFC fighter.

In addition, increased motivation could play a role.

Nevertheless, Anderson participates in the tournament, for the victory in which he will receive not only the light heavyweight title, but also a round sum.

- Before the fight with Bader, did you expect Anderson to take over?

“I thought that Bader would still be able to impose his style on Anderson.

Will press him to the grid, control.

But the outcome of the duel was actually decided by one blow.

Yet at heavy weights, a precise hit can change the course of an entire battle.

You can talk a lot about how it would have gone if this overhand hadn't happened.

- If Vadim passes Corey, will this mean that he has achieved everything in Bellator and should he move to a new level - in the UFC?

- Probably, it is better to answer this question to Nemkov himself.

We will support any decision he makes.

In my opinion, the age of sports is short, and we need to think about how to live on.

Vadim is making good money at Bellator.

If they offer him more in the UFC, then it makes sense to think about the transition.

Otherwise, it's not worth thinking about.

But this is my personal opinion.

Perhaps Vadim has ambitions to prove everything to everyone and become a champion in an organization that is considered the strongest in the MMA world.

But I don't know what's in his head.

We didn't talk about this topic.

I didn’t really want to lift it before a serious and responsible fight.

If everything goes well, then after its completion it will make sense to talk.

- Recently, Gegard Mousasi and the same Bader appeared among the possible opponents of Nemkov, but this time for the heavyweight title.

Which of these fights would you like to see?

- Of course, it is more interesting to watch the rematch between Nemkov and Bader, but in a different category.

To again take over the American and become a champion in two divisions - this would be a serious achievement for Vadim.

If we talk about the UFC, then the most interesting is his return fight with Jiri Prochazka.

Nemkov has every chance to win and avenge his defeat in the Rizin FF Grand Prix semi-finals.

Then he, too, could well have won, but his youth and lack of experience played a role.

- In your opinion, with such anthropometry, Nemkov can successfully compete in heavyweight?

- Certainly.

Between fights, Vadim weighs like a heavyweight, sometimes even more than Valentin (Moldavsky).

And most importantly, he feels good.

Therefore, we should not rule out his transition to a new division.

Perhaps, over the years, the cut has become more and more difficult for him, both from a physical and psychological point of view.  

- But if Vadim defeats Ryan and becomes a champion in two divisions, he will actually block the path to the belt for you and Moldavsky.

How does the Fedor Team look at this?

- No problem.

We are one team, train together, support each other.

If the heavyweight championship belt goes to Vadim or Valentin, I will only be happy for them.

On this occasion, there can be no conflicts, because we know each other almost from childhood.

- Do you imagine a possible duel for the title between two representatives of the Fedor Team?

- Not.

I don't want to think about it, I don't want to discuss it.

I am sure that the organizers will not even offer to hold such a battle.

Bellator understands very well that we are a team.

Yes, and Fedor will not allow this under any circumstances.

- As Nemkov said, during the fight with Anderson, Emelianenko will be present in his corner.

Moldavsky was also supposed to be there, but he fell ill.

Who else will be next to him?

- In addition to Fedor, Vadim will be seconded by his brother Viktor.

Also next will be our young fighter Nikita Mikhailov, who replaced Josh Hill and will fight Enrique Barzola at Bellator 278.

Why didn't you fly to the USA?

In November, you said that visa problems should be resolved by the end of 2021.

- Now in this regard, everything is difficult.

Especially given the current political situation.

Therefore, the process of obtaining a visa is temporarily suspended.

- In an interview, Nemkov said that his fight with Anderson was in jeopardy.

Do you know what was the reason?

“I don't know anything about it.

Perhaps this is somehow connected with the fact that now it is difficult for Russian fighters to get to the United States.

You have to fly to Istanbul first, then make a few more transfers on the way to America.

- And how would you comment on the statement of another

“I haven't heard Scott Cocker or anyone in the promotion's management say this.

But if Tolya says this, he probably has reasons for this.

At the same time, I personally do not know what exactly was said during the talks.

Usually everything happens like this: one of our fighters is assigned a duel, we help prepare.

However, if this or that fight was not appointed, we often do not know the reasons.

— What about ordinary rating battles?

“I'm sure it won't be a problem.

Look how many Russians are fighting in the UFC and Bellator.

- This is especially important in the context of your next fight.

At the end of February, you lost to Gokhan Sarycham at a tournament in Dublin.

Have you already analyzed that fight?

- I think the problems were in my head.

I'm not going to make excuses for myself, but psychologically I was not ready for that battle and had a terrible fight.

Perhaps the whole situation in the world influenced.

One way or another, it was extremely unsuccessful.

Have you talked to

- Not yet.

We are waiting for information on tournaments.

After we will contact.

The difficulty is that it’s definitely impossible to fight in Europe - it’s more difficult to get a visa there than in the USA.

I don't have an American either.

Therefore, everything is postponed indefinitely.

Let's say the opportunity to speak still appears.

When will you be ready to return to the cage?

- I think, in the beginning - the middle of summer.

If Tokov fights in June, then in the spring we will actively help him in training, therefore, we will get ourselves in shape. 

- If the current situation in the world is not resolved in the near future, are you considering the possibility of performing in Russia?

- Why not?

Now in Russia there are promotions that are in full view.

- Perhaps one of them especially attracts your attention?

- While I'm fighting in Bellator, so I can't talk about it.

But if tomorrow they offer me an interesting opponent and a good fee in Russia, then what's the point of refusing?

So far, there has been no talk about it, so there is nothing to discuss.

If we talk about Russian organizations, then a very strong heavyweight division in the ACA.

I'm not saying that I would certainly like to try my hand there.

But I do not rule out such a possibility.

- You spent your last fights at home at AMC Fight Nights Global, under the auspices of which a scandalous duel between your teammate Grigory Ponomarev and Yusup Shuaev recently took place.

How did you react to its result and the decision of the league leadership to introduce a rule on the limit of being on the ground?

- It seems to me that AMC Fight Nights decided to protect the judge and their name, so they hastily introduced a new rule.

But it will kill MMA.

70% of former stars and champions of the promotion spent most of the fight on the ground.

Imagine how they would perform in the new conditions.

Minutes are extremely short to do something serious on earth.

— Don't you think that such a rule brings

- Maybe you're right.

I can say that under these conditions the fights can become more spectacular.

People do love that.

And in the long run it can benefit the promotion.

Now many fighters are leaving him.

And if it becomes popular again, it will be easier to keep them, to attract new ones.

But imagine if the battle between Magomed Ismailov and Alexander Emelianenko took place according to these rules.

Who knows how it would have ended.

- Would you agree to fight by such rules?

- Of course, it is more convenient for me to fight according to the classic rules of MMA.

But I would not refuse to try myself in these conditions.