Vadim Nemkov Added to Road to Dubai Champions Series, Nathan Kelly Gets New Opponent

Nemkov was previously scheduled to meet two different opponents at Road to Dubai Champions Series.

(Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The PFL/Bellator Road to Dubai Champions Series card scheduled to take place on January 25 has undergone a couple of changes just weeks out from the event.

Vadim Nemkov vs. Tim Johnson Added to Road to Dubai Champions Series

Set to kick off the PFL’s 2025 schedule, Road to Dubai Champions Series will go down at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena and features a highly-anticipated main event between undefeated Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.

(Exclusive) Ibragim Ibragimov Talks Road to Dubai Champions Series & PFL Title Run

An originally-planned heavyweight co-main event between former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Nemkov and 2022 PFL Heavyweight Champion Ante Delija was scrapped from the card when Delija was forced to withdraw, and a replacement trilogy bout between Nemkov and Corey Anderson also unfortunately fell through shortly after it was announced.

It looked as if Nemkov wouldn't be competing in Dubai with less than a month to go until the event, but now the PFL and Bellator have announced that the 32-year-old will meet heavyweight veteran Tim Johnson on January 25.

🚨 UPDATE: Vadim Nemkov now faces Tim Johnson at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on Saturday 25th January.

BE THERE! 🎟️ https://t.co/HZ3ZYOEyw7#RoadtoDubai | Sat Jan 25 | Coca-Cola Arena | Dubai, UAE pic.twitter.com/YsjhJSyKpo

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 6, 2025

A veteran of the UFC and Bellator, Johnson debuted under the PFL banner with a first-round finish against Danilo Marques but was stopped in the first round of a playoff matchup with eventual 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov in November.

PFL News: Paul Hughes Throws Shade at Usman Nurmagomedov for Previous Drug Suspension

Undefeated featherweight Khasan Magomedsharipov has also apparently withdrawn from the card, and now Nathan Kelly will look to extend his current 11-fight win streak against another dangerous Dagestani fighter in Akhmed Magomedov.

🚨 UPDATE: Nathan Kelly now faces Akhmed Magomedov on January 25th at the Coca-Cola Arena!

BE THERE! 🎟️ https://t.co/HZ3ZYOEyw7#RoadtoDubai | Sat Jan 25 | Coca-Cola Arena | Dubai, UAE pic.twitter.com/zrxfNzCuEc

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 7, 2025

Fan anticipation for Road to Dubai Champions Series has been growing steadily in the last week after Khabib Nurmagomedov made headlines for his comments about the quality of Irish MMA compared to Dagestan, and on January 25 his cousin Usman will attempt to back up those claims when he meets Hughes in the night’s headlining fight.

More PFL & MMA News

• 'The One, The Only': Former Two-Division UFC Champion Conor McGregor Teases Comeback

• Ex-UFC Champ Claims to be ‘Biggest Fight’ for Michael Chandler after Conor McGregor

• Payton Talbott Says Top Contenders Rejected Him Ahead of UFC 311: ‘It’s Dangerous'

• BKFC Loses Crossover Fight: ‘Kimbo Slice Jr. Is Afraid of TikTok Dancing Bryce Hall'

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC, MMA, and Boxing.

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.