Vadim Nemkov disclosed that kidney problems significantly impacted his performance in his first fight against Cory Anderson in 2022. The Russian fighter experienced severe stamina issues, fading after the first round in both sparring sessions and the actual bout. After extensive medical consultation, doctors identified kidney issues related to extreme weight cuts as the cause. Nemkov found an appropriate legal medication that resolved the problem before his November 2022 rematch. He has since eliminated all sports supplements from his diet to reduce kidney stress, relying only on vitamins, omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B. Nemkov reports feeling no worse without creatine, protein, and BCAAs.
Vadim Nemkov has opened up about a significant health issue that undermined his conditioning during his first meeting with Cory Anderson in 2022, revealing that kidney problems left him struggling badly after the opening round.
The Russian light heavyweight disclosed that he was fading in both sparring and the actual fight itself, and that extensive medical consultation eventually pinpointed kidney stress caused by extreme weight cuts as the root cause. Nemkov said he located an appropriate legal medication in time for the November 2022 rematch, which allowed him to compete without the same debilitating stamina problems. In the time since, he has overhauled his supplement routine entirely, cutting out creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs in favor of vitamins, omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B, and reports feeling no worse for the change.
Nemkov carries a professional record of 19 wins and 2 losses and competes at light heavyweight. The 32-year-old stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, and his striking accuracy sits at fifty percent. He represents Russia and has long been considered among the elite talents in the 205-pound division.
Why it matters
- The disclosure sheds light on how weight-cut practices can carry serious medical consequences, even for elite-level fighters
- Nemkov's candid account of the physical toll before the Anderson rematch reframes how that stretch of his career should be understood
- His decision to abandon common sports supplements entirely marks a meaningful shift in how he manages his body long-term, with potential implications for his performance going forward
