Vadim Nemkov disclosed that kidney problems in 2022 caused severe conditioning issues that affected his first fight with Corey Anderson. He would gas out after one round in sparring sessions and felt like his fuel tank was empty by the second round. Medical tests eventually identified the kidney issue, and doctors prescribed a legal over-the-counter medication that resolved the problem. Nemkov now avoids all sports supplements including creatine, protein, and BCAAs, as they place additional stress on the kidneys. He attributes the kidney damage to aggressive weight cuts earlier in his career. Since making these changes and maintaining proper nutrition, sleep, and vitamin intake, Nemkov reports feeling no worse without the supplements.
Vadim Nemkov has opened up about a kidney condition that quietly undermined his physical performance during 2022, revealing the health scare contributed to conditioning problems that showed up in his matchup against Corey Anderson.
The Russian light heavyweight, now 32 years old and carrying a 19-2 record, said the issue left him exhausted far earlier than expected during training. In sparring sessions, he would be spent after just one round, describing the sensation as running on an empty fuel tank by the second. Medical testing eventually identified the kidney problem, and doctors pointed him toward a legal, over-the-counter medication that cleared it up. Nemkov traces the root cause to aggressive weight cuts earlier in his career, which he believes placed cumulative stress on his kidneys. He has since eliminated sports supplements entirely — including creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs — because of the additional burden they place on kidney function. Focusing instead on nutrition, sleep, and vitamins, he reports feeling no worse for the change.
Corey Anderson, the 36-year-old American fighting out of The Kennel Fight Club, is a physically imposing opponent at six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach. Anderson averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute with 46 percent accuracy and generates consistent offensive wrestling pressure at nearly five takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him a demanding test for any opponent operating below full capacity.
Why it matters
- Nemkov's disclosure reframes how their 2022 contest should be viewed, given he was competing through an undiagnosed medical condition
- The kidney issue, linked to weight cutting, raises broader questions about the long-term physical toll of repeated cuts in combat sports
- Nemkov's supplement-free approach and his reported return to full health position him as a different athlete heading into future competition than the one Anderson faced
