World Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Vadim Nemkov of Russia defeated Bellator world number one 205lb Corey Anderson after earning a unanimous victory in the bout. Illinois.
With strategic aggression and explosiveness, the stellar fight of the night between the Russian and the American began, both fighters landing a volume of blows even though neither connected accurately with their rival. Anderson tried a few takedowns and by the third round he looked much more tired than Nemkov, plus it was the American who was also more evident of the effects of the fight they were waging.
BIG drama at the end of round 1, as Nemkov goes down @CoreyA_MMA.#Bellatorr288 ALIVE @SHOsports 📺 pic.twitter.com/ZRE8jcm6TH
—BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 19, 2022
However it is Corey who puts the pressure, then the Russian accuses his opponent of having opened his hands and the referee separates them momentarily, giving Nemkov a breather. However Anderson continued to put pressure on the cage. In the early stages of round four Nemov landed some good jabs until Anderson got his opponent into the cage but didn’t try to submit so the fight came back to hitting.
The champion started kicking his rival in the bottom end for good as they seemed to have effect on the challenger, but after Anderson blocked one of those attempts, Nemkov abandoned the low kick strategy, as well as constantly complaining for different reasons and forced the referee to take it off the flow of the fight. For round five the actions were still dynamic, the fight was fun to watch with good combinations from both fighters.
Anderson was attempting a takedown but the most he could do was put Nemkov against the fence of the cage to start the grappling then it was back to the amazing match with both fighters putting in some good shots but none accurate enough to finish . thus would end the fifth and final round of a fun fight.
Nemkov looks strong in the final round!#Bellatore288 ALIVE @SHOsports 📺 pic.twitter.com/5zk5UE6yY6
—BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) November 19, 2022
Bellator 288 results also include:
MAIN MANIFESTO
Usman Nurmagomedov defeated Patricky Freire by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-44) – for lightweight title
Timur Khizriev defeated Daniel Weichel by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel James defeated Tyrell Fortune via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 0:27
Levan Chokheli defeated Roman Faraldo by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
PRELIMINARY MANIFESTO
Imamshafi Aliev defeats Sean Fallon by TKO (medical stoppage) – Round 1, 3:20
Killys Mota defeated Jairo Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Archie Colgan defeated Jesse Hannam via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:50
Sullivan Cauley defeated Jay Radick by knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:01
Jordan Newman defeats Jayden Taulker by submission (rear choke) – Round 2, 3:20
Laird Anderson defeated Rob Fenicle via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:28
Isaiah Hokit defeated Matias Nader via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:48 am
Wladmir Gouvea defeated Kory Moegenburg via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:46
