Vadim Nemkov believes a big fight could be on the horizon if he captures the PFL heavyweight title.
Former Bellator champion Nemkov (18-2) takes on 2024 PFL heavyweight season winner Renan Ferreira (13-4) for the heavyweight title in Saturday’s PFL Lyon main event (ESPN Unlmtd) at LDLC Arena. With Francis Ngannou (18-3) waiting for PFL to offer him a fight before the conclusion of his contract, Nemkov could get the opportunity to face him with a win over Ferreira.
Advertisement
“Of course, I think about Francis and the possibility of fighting him,” Nemkov told MMA Junkie Radio through an interpreter. “If that’s what my next fight is then great. It’s really for PFL to set up and make it work.”
Nemkov will be facing a much taller opponent in Ferreira, but the 33-year-old explained how he’s prepared for the challenge.
“I brought in some taller training partners for this camp, and I actually even started training for some of them before when I was an alternate for Francis’ fight,” Nemkov said. “So, I’ve been sparring with tall people for a while. I feel like I’m ready.”
Ferreira is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Ngannou last October. With most of his fights not going past the first round, many are expecting a furious start from the Brazilian – but not Nemkov.
Advertisement
“I don’t think he’s just going to charge right at me,” Nemkov said of Ferreira. “I think he understands that I’m a veteran. I’m not new to this game. That’s not going to be to his advantage. Of course, with the fans energized and yelling and screaming, it energizes everybody. But we’re both veterans, we’ve both been around, so I think we’re going to be pretty level headed.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Vadim Nemkov open to Francis Ngannou fight with PFL Lyon win
