Francis Ngannou‘s coach, Eric Nicksick opened up about his potential options for opponents and specifically named Vadim Nemkov. Nicksick called Nemkov the toughest fight outside the UFC and believes a PFL heavyweight title clash makes the most sense.
Nemkov recently captured the inaugural PFL heavyweight championship with a dominant win over Renan Ferreira. That victory was believed to have set the stage for a showdown with the former UFC heavyweight champion. However, Ngannou was not included in PFL’s updated heavyweight rankings.
Ngannou last fought at PFL Battle of the Giants in 2024, where he defeated Ferreira by 1st round TKO. Before that, he fought twice in boxing, losing to former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou’s absence from the rankings surprised many fans and sparked speculation about his future with the promotion. One fight remains on his deal, and he is believed to become a free agent at the end of the year. As a result, there has been a growing demand for ‘The Predator’ to face Nemkov, who expressed interest.
“[Nemkov] to me, is really the only name out there outside of the UFC that really makes any sense when it comes to a competitive fight for Francis,” Nicksick told Heavy Sports via Action Network. “If that fight comes to fruition, we’ll have our guy ready.
Francis Ngannou’s Coach Praises Vadim Nemkov’s Skill Set
Francis Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick also praised Vadim Nemkov’s skill set and the strong support of his team.
Nemkov, 33, trains under the tutelage of MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko and is unbeaten in his last 15 fights. He is a well-rounded fighter with proven knockout power and notable victories over Corey Anderson, Ryan Bader, and Yoel Romero.
“I love watching that guy fight, he can take the fight anywhere he needs to. Obviously coming up under Fedor [Emelianenko], arguably one of the greatest mixed martial artists to do it,” Nicksick told Heavy Sports via Action Network.
He added:
“I think not only is [Nemkov] dangerous, but I think he has the fight IQ and the ability to be a real challenge for us.”
Ngannou’s Coach Eric Nicksick Discusses Significance of Facing Nemkov
Nicksick also discussed the importance of facing Nemkov. Ngannou has faced a who’s who of top heavyweights and former champions and has built a strong legacy in MMA.
The former UFC heavyweight champion holds notable victories over Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, and Cain Velasquez. If he adds Nemkov to that list, it would further strengthen his his resume, given the Russian’s status as a two-division champion.
Nicksick believes Ngannou and Nemkov would be highly motivated for a PFL heavyweight title fight because of what it represents for the winner.
“When you say that name [Nemkov], to me is the only one that make sense right now. He poses a lot of great challenges,” Nicksick told Heavy Sports via Action Network. “I think that’s what you’re looking for when you’re one of the best heavyweights in the world or arguably the baddest man on the planet, you wanna challenge yourself versus the best in the world.”
Francis Ngannou’s Coach Calls Vadim Nemkov the Only Real Challenge in PFL