Vadim Nemkov disclosed that he suffered kidney problems in 2022 that significantly impacted his performance against Corey Anderson. Nemkov explained he would gas out after one round in sparring and fights, losing energy completely by the second round. Medical investigation revealed kidney issues caused by severe weight cuts. Nemkov found a permitted pharmaceutical solution that resolved the problem, but has since eliminated all sports supplements from his diet, including creatine, protein, and BCAAs. He now only takes vitamins, omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B, and reports feeling no worse without the supplements.
Vadim Nemkov has opened up about a serious health issue that undermined his performances against Corey Anderson, revealing that kidney problems stemming from severe weight cuts left him physically depleted during those bouts.
The 32-year-old Russian light heavyweight, who carries a 19-2 record and a 76-inch reach, described how the condition drained him almost immediately in competition. He would gas out after just one round of sparring, and by the second round of fights his energy had effectively disappeared. Medical investigation traced the problem to kidney stress caused by aggressive weight cutting. Nemkov found a permitted pharmaceutical solution that addressed the issue and has since overhauled his supplement routine entirely, cutting out creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs. He now limits himself to vitamins, omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B, and reports no decline in how he feels as a result.
Corey Anderson, the 36-year-old American from The Kennel Fight Club who holds a 14-5 record, presented a formidable challenge on both nights. Standing six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach, Anderson is an active striker who lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy, and he is a persistent grappling threat, averaging 4.89 takedown attempts per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- Nemkov's disclosure reframes the Anderson losses as performance compromised by an undiagnosed medical condition rather than a straightforward competitive defeat
- The kidney diagnosis and supplement overhaul raise questions about how weight-cut protocols affect athletes over a full training camp
- With both men still active in a competitive light heavyweight division, the context of those previous results now carries different weight for any future matchmaking discussions
