Vadim Nemkov disclosed that kidney problems caused his cardio collapse in the first Corey Anderson fight in spring 2022, where he won round one but gassed completely in round two. The issue persisted through sparring sessions, where he would fade after one round despite handling other training fine. After traveling to Thailand for an August camp, he sought medical help and found an approved medication that resolved the problem. Nemkov has since eliminated all sports supplements including creatine, protein, and BCAAs to reduce kidney strain, relying only on vitamins like omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and B vitamins. He says he feels no worse without the supplements as long as his diet and sleep are properly managed.
Vadim Nemkov has opened up about a previously undisclosed kidney condition that he says explains his stunning cardio collapse against Corey Anderson in their first meeting in spring 2022, revealing that the health scare ultimately led him to abandon all sports supplements.
The Russian light heavyweight, now 32 years old and carrying a 19-2-0 professional record, described a puzzling pattern in the lead-up to and during that bout. He controlled the first round but faded completely in the second, and the same issue was showing up in sparring — Nemkov would struggle after a single round despite handling other aspects of training without difficulty. He eventually traveled to Thailand for an August camp, sought medical evaluation, and found an approved medication that resolved the problem.
Nemkov stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the most technically refined fighters in the division, posting a 50 percent striking accuracy rate across his career.
Corey Anderson, the American nicknamed "Overtime," is 36 years old and holds a 14-5-0 record. The six-foot-three orthodox fighter, who trains out of The Kennel Fight Club, is a persistent volume threat, landing 4.43 significant strikes per minute and averaging 4.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that would have made Nemkov's gassing especially costly.
Why it matters
- The disclosure reframes a result that appeared to be a straightforward competitive loss as one shaped by an undiagnosed medical condition.
- Nemkov's decision to cut creatine, protein powders, and BCAAs — replacing them with omega-3, fish oil, magnesium, and B vitamins — signals a significant long-term adjustment to how he manages his body between camps.
- He reports no decline in how he feels since making the change, crediting disciplined nutrition and sleep as adequate replacements, which may ease concerns about the impact on his performance at the elite level.
