Bellator 268: Nemkov vs. Anglickas

Bellator 268 took place on October 16, 2021, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Vadim Nemkov and Corey Anderson won the light heavyweight grand prix semifinals, advancing through a fourth-round submission and a 51-second stoppage respectively. Nemkov also successfully defended the championship that was at stake throughout his tournament run.

Nemkov Defends His Title

Nemkov submitted Julius Anglickas with a kimura at 4:25 of round four. Anglickas had stepped into the tournament as a replacement and posed an early threat, but the champion recovered and imposed sustained pressure. Nemkov’s success on the ground eventually produced the submission, retaining his title and earning a place in the final.

Anderson’s 51-Second Stoppage

Anderson defeated Ryan Bader by technical knockout at 0:51 of the first round. His right hand and follow-up strikes forced the referee’s intervention. The result completed Anderson’s third stoppage win in three Bellator appearances and put him into the tournament final against Nemkov.

Other Notable Matches

Brent Primus defeated Benson Henderson by unanimous decision, with scores of 29–28, 30–27 and 30–27. Henry Corrales also won a unanimous decision against Vladyslav Parubchenko, taking all three cards 30–27. These were contender victories rather than title fights, so neither result itself guaranteed the next championship challenge.

Event Perspective

The two semifinal winners reached the same destination through contrasting performances. Nemkov needed most of four rounds to overcome Anglickas, while Anderson ended his bout in less than a minute. Both results resolved their side of the bracket and established the pairing for the grand prix final.

Why the Event Mattered

The tournament attached a second competitive objective to Nemkov’s title defense. He had to protect his championship and advance in the bracket, while Anderson was competing for the opportunity to meet him. That structure gave each semifinal consequences beyond a routine light heavyweight victory.

Sources

MMA Fighting: Bellator 268 results; Event results record.

Article Tags

Bellator, Bellator 268, Mixed Martial Arts