Vadim Nemkov disclosed that kidney problems in 2022 caused severe stamina issues that affected his first fight with Corey Anderson. During training, Nemkov would gas out after one round of sparring, despite performing well in other training activities like CrossFit and weightlifting. This same fatigue struck during the Anderson fight, where he won the first round but had no energy in the second, unable to execute techniques he knew he should be capable of. Doctors eventually identified the issue and found an approved pharmaceutical solution during a training camp in Thailand before the rematch. As part of addressing the kidney problems caused by severe weight cuts, Nemkov eliminated all sports supplements including creatine, protein, and BCAAs from his regimen, now only taking vitamins like omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B. He reports feeling no worse without the supplements as long as his nutrition, sleep, and vitamin intake are properly managed.
Vadim Nemkov has revealed that an undiagnosed kidney condition severely hampered his performance during his first fight against Corey Anderson in 2022, explaining for the first time why his energy levels collapsed after the opening round of that contest.
Nemkov, 32, carries a 19-2 professional record and competes at light heavyweight. The Russian fighter stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the division's most technically accomplished competitors, posting a 50 percent striking accuracy rate across his career. He disclosed that during the training camp leading up to the first Anderson bout, he was gassing out after just one round of sparring despite performing well in other physical activities such as CrossFit and weightlifting. That same energy drain appeared in the fight itself — he controlled the first round but had nothing left in the second, unable to execute techniques he knew were well within his capabilities.
Doctors eventually identified the kidney problems and traced them partly to the stress of severe weight cuts. Before the rematch, during a training camp in Thailand, a pharmaceutical solution was found and confirmed to be on the approved list. Nemkov also overhauled his supplement routine entirely, cutting out creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs, and replacing them with basic vitamins including omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and vitamin B. He reports no decline in performance with the simpler regimen, provided his nutrition, sleep, and vitamin intake are properly managed.
Anderson, 36, holds a 14-5 record and presents a demanding stylistic test for any light heavyweight. The American stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute with a 46 percent accuracy rate, while also generating 4.89 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The disclosure reframes the first Nemkov-Anderson fight, which had appeared closer than many expected from Nemkov
- It raises questions about how kidney health and weight-cut protocols affect elite fighter performance more broadly
- Nemkov's supplement overhaul and medical intervention heading into the rematch suggest he believes his physical baseline has since improved significantly
