The UFC just missed their chance to sign a red-hot free agent.
In recent years, the world’s premier MMA promotion has often been criticized for the depth of its heavyweight division, or lack thereof. With Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic retired and Francis Ngannou long gone, there aren’t many names that jump off the page other than the undisputed champion Tom Aspinall.
The Professional Fighters League isn’t absent from criticism either as ‘Big’ John McCarthy recently advised the PFL to cut the heavyweight division since Ngannou ‘isn’t doing anything’ for the promotion.
McCarthy did mention there were a few solid heavyweights on the PFL roster, namely Vadim Nemkov, who left the promotion after defeating former UFC and Bellator heavyweight Tim Johnson in January.
Some fans believed Nemkov’s next stop would be the big show in UFC but it looks like the former Bellator light heavyweight champion isn’t going anywhere.
Vadim Nemkov re-signs with PFL, UFC won’t be able to get him until 2028
On Wednesday, founder Donn Davis wrote on X that the PFL has re-signed Vadim Nemkov to a multi-year promotional contract.
Nemkov’s new PFL deal expires at the end of 2027, meaning he won’t be able to negotiate with the UFC or other rival promotions until 2028.
What does Nemkov coming back mean for the PFL? Two words. Francis Ngannou.
Davis included the former UFC heavyweight champion as one of three potential opponents for Nemkov’s return, along with 6’8″ Renan Ferreira, recent heavyweight tournament winner Oleg Popov, and a mysterious new signing who has yet to be announced.
Davis claimed Nemkov is a consensus top 10 heavyweight and it’s hard to deny, given his resume (see below).
Nemkov is a very well-rounded fighter with excellent takedown defense and brutal leg kicks, which he’s finished former Bellator champion Liam McGeary with. Nemkov’s last two PFL fights ended by submission.
Nemkov will be 35 years old when his newly-signed PFL contract ends.
Vadim Nemkov has a pretty stellar resume outside UFC
Nemkov is by far one of the most underrated fighters on the planet.
While he has yet to step into the Octagon, the Fedor Emelianenko protegé has defeated a slew of former top UFC contenders like Yoel Romero, Corey Anderson, Ryan Bader, and Phil Davis (twice).
At 33, Nemkov has defeated six former world champions in his career. The Russian had four successful title defenses in Bellator and didn’t lose once in his ten fights there.
Most of Nemkov’s fights are at light heavyweight but he’s looked unstoppable at heavyweight so far.
Nemkov’s pro record is 19-2, with one of those losses coming to former UFC champion and #2-ranked light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka a decade ago.
It was no ordinary TKO loss, however, as the first RIZIN round lasted ten minutes long rather than the standard five you see in UFC. Nemkov lost by retirement.
In a couple of years from now, who knows if the UFC will want to pick up Vadim Nemkov. UFC CEO Dana White didn’t seem at all that interested in signing Nemkov when he was a free agent months ago, confirming at a UFC press conference that his team hadn’t talked about Nemkov at that time.