Corey Anderson Won’t ‘Cry Over’ Missed Vadim Nemkov Trilogy

While Corey Anderson isn’t fretting about his missed trilogy clash against Vadim Nemkov, “Overtime” is hoping for an opportunity to make things right down the line.

Nemkov vacated the Bellator MMA light heavyweight title earlier this year in favor of a full-time move to heavyweight, robbing Anderson (17-6) of the opportunity to avenge his loss. Anderson now will fight surging light heavyweight contender Karl Moore (12-2) for the vacant strap in the main event at Bellator 302 on March 22 at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

While Anderson would have preferred to face Nemkov for the title once again, winning the belt is a priority for the Ultimate Fighting Championship alum. Anderson hasn’t lost all hope of avenging his loss to Nemkov though, keeping the door open for a matchup at both light heavyweight and heavyweight.

“I’m disappointed in the fact that I don't get to fight Nemkov again right now. But the title fight is the title fight, you know, getting the title is most important to me,” Anderson said during March 13’s Bellator 302 media call.

“So, I'm not going to cry over spilled milk and worry about that. We got to handle this business and then maybe in the future, who knows, maybe he’ll end up coming back down later or I'll go up later, whatever it is. Hopefully we get that revenge at some point.”

Anderson was clearly winning his first clash against Nemkov at Bellator 227 in April 2022 before an accidental clash of heads brought the contest to an anticlimactic end. Nemkov went on to defeat Anderson via a dominant decision in their rematch later that year. The American admittedly took his training camp for the rematch a little easy, a mistake he’ll never repeat. Asked about his upcoming opponent Moore, Anderson said:

“The guy [Moore] got a fight to get the belt. That's what I think of him. I mean he's here for a reason. He has a four-fight win streak. He's beat those guys to get to the shot. So, he's just another guy in the line. I mean we respect him. Not looking past anybody. I guess I train every fight, every training camp like I'm fighting the best man in the world. The one time I didn't, I paid for it. That was the last Nemkov fight. I thought I sure had it in the bag. I took it easy on camp a little bit and it cost me. Never again. So, every time we go, we are fighting the baddest man in the world, no matter what. We’re fighting the baddest mofo in the world. We're going to be prepared for everything. And that's it. Don't worry about what he is as an opponent. Just worry about what he's capable of or what could happen and be ready for anything that can't happen.”

Anderson has since bounced back with a split decision win over fellow UFC veteran Phil Davis at Bellator 297. Meanwhile, Moore is going into the first Bellator headliner of his career in his hometown.