Vadim Nemkov disclosed that kidney problems in 2022 severely impacted his cardio during his first fight with Corey Anderson and in training. During sparring sessions, Nemkov would fade dramatically after the first round, unable to understand why his gas tank was failing despite feeling fine in other training. This issue persisted into his spring 2022 bout with Anderson, where he won the first round but had no energy in the second, describing it as if someone "shut off the gas." After extensive medical testing, doctors eventually identified the kidney issue and found an appropriate pharmaceutical treatment (WADA-legal) that resolved the problem. Nemkov has since eliminated all sports supplements from his diet to reduce stress on his kidneys, now only consuming vitamins like omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B. He stated he hasn't noticed any performance decline from cutting out creatine, protein, and BCAAs, emphasizing that proper nutrition, sleep, and vitamins are sufficient.
Vadim Nemkov has revealed that an undiagnosed kidney condition severely hampered his cardio during the spring 2022 period, affecting both his training camp and his first fight against Corey Anderson.
The Russian light heavyweight, now 32 years old and carrying a 19-2 record, described a baffling pattern during sparring sessions where he would feel sharp through the opening round before fading dramatically, unable to explain the sudden drop-off in his gas tank. That same problem followed him into the cage for his bout with Anderson, where Nemkov controlled the first round but found himself completely drained in the second, likening the sensation to someone cutting off his fuel supply entirely. After undergoing extensive medical testing, doctors eventually pinpointed the kidney issue and prescribed a WADA-legal pharmaceutical treatment that resolved it.
Corey Anderson, the 36-year-old American competing out of The Kennel Fight Club, is a physical and aggressive presence in the division at six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach. He lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy and averages an imposing 4.89 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more well-rounded threats at 205 pounds.
Nemkov, who stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has recorded 19 wins across his career, also disclosed a significant change to his supplementation habits following the diagnosis. He has cut creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs entirely from his routine to reduce stress on his kidneys, now relying only on omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B. He stated he has noticed no decline in performance since making the switch, arguing that sound nutrition, quality sleep, and basic vitamins are enough to sustain elite-level output.
Why it matters
- The disclosure reframes the competitive narrative of the first Nemkov-Anderson contest
- Nemkov's health recovery reinforces his standing as a top-tier light heavyweight at 32
- Anderson's high takedown output and volume striking make any rematch a genuine test of whether Nemkov's conditioning is fully restored
