Nemkov stops Bader to win light heavyweight title at Bellator 244

Vadim Nemkov is the new Bellator light heavyweight champion.

Nemkov stopped Ryan Bader via TKO at 3:02 of the second round in the Bellator 244 main event on Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The finishing sequence started when Nemkov landed a right head kick midway through the frame. The Russian then pounced on Bader, assaulting him with ground-and-pound. The referee gave Bader every chance to improve his position and recover, but Nemkov continued to batter him with a flurry of strikes from a dominant position.

Bader tried to hold on to Nemkov, but he was too hurt to get out of harm's way. He eventually returned to his feet briefly, but a left hook from Nemkov put the 37-year-old down for good, and the referee was given no choice but to end the fight.

The first round was competitive, with the two light heavyweights trading shots on their feet. However, Nemkov proved to be the quicker and sharper fighter, slightly out-landing his opponent. He also pressured Bader, who struggled to fight off his back foot. "Darth" landed a takedown late in the round, but he wasn't able to do much on top.

With the victory, Nemkov is 5-0 in Bellator, which also includes wins over former champions Phil Davis and Liam McGeary. Nemkov is the seventh 205-pound titleholder in the company's history.

Bader, who still holds Bellator's heavyweight title, suffered his first loss since January 2016, dropping to 5-1 (1 NC) in the promotion.

This was Bader's first light heavyweight bout since late 2017. He entered the Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2018 and won the tournament - and the vacant belt - in 2019. Bader defended his heavyweight title for the first time against Cheick Kongo last year, but the clash was later overturned to a no-contest due to an eye poke.