PFL Dubai Card Shake-Up: Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson 3 Scrapped, New Co-Main Event in the Works

PFL’s much-anticipated Dubai debut on January 25 has taken a hit with the cancellation of Vadim Nemkov vs. Corey Anderson 3. The organization confirmed the news , leaving fans eager to see how the event will rebound with a new co-main event.

The bout between Nemkov and Anderson was set to be the culmination of an intense rivalry. Corey Anderson dominated their first meeting, which ended in a no-contest due to an accidental clash of heads. The rematch saw Nemkov claim a unanimous decision victory, securing the Bellator light heavyweight title before vacating it to move up to heavyweight. The planned trilogy was supposed to settle the score, but now that chapter remains unwritten.

Corey Anderson, who replaced PFL veteran Ante Delija for the fight, expressed his frustration on Instagram after the cancellation.

"Woke up to a text this morning from PFL and Bellator saying ‘Vadim refuses to fight you,’” he wrote.

Verbatim their words is ‘you’re too tough of a fight for him. That’s what he says but he wants to stay on the card and fight a lesser opponent. Can’t make this stuff up.

“You call yourself the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the organization, but you’re scared to fight somebody that you’ve already fought twice on seven weeks’ notice.”

These explosive comments have added a layer of drama to an already high-stakes situation, sparking debates among fans about whether Nemkov is avoiding a tough challenge or simply focusing on other priorities.

With the Nemkov vs. Anderson 3 bout officially scrapped, PFL is actively searching for a new co-main event to complement the lightweight title fight headlining the card. Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov will defend his belt against rising star Paul Hughes in what promises to be an electrifying showdown.

PFL has a reputation for delivering high-quality matchups, so fans can expect the organization to pull out all the stops to deliver a strong replacement for the co-main event.

While the cancellation of Nemkov vs. Anderson 3 is a disappointment, the PFL Dubai card still has the potential to captivate audiences with its intriguing main event and the promise of more announcements to come. The road to January 25 remains unpredictable, and fans will be watching closely to see how PFL navigates this last-minute shake-up.