Corey Anderson (fighter) facts for kids

Corey Anderson (born September 22, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the PFL. He used to fight in Bellator MMA, where he was the last Light Heavyweight World Champion. Before that, he was a top fighter in the UFC's light heavyweight division. He even won The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn TV show.

Quick facts for kids Corey Anderson
Corey Anderson ahead of UFC 244 in Madison Square Garden
Born	(1989-09-22) September 22, 1989 (age 35) Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Overtime/ Beastin 25/8
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)
Division	Light heavyweight (2013, 2014–present) Heavyweight (2013)
Reach	79 in (201 cm)
Style	Wrestling, BJJ
Fighting out of	Rockton, Illinois, U.S.
Team	Renzo Gracie Academy
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Almeida
Wrestling	NCAA Division II Wrestling
Years active	2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	25
Wins	18
By knockout	8
By decision	10
Losses	6
By knockout	4
By decision	2
No contests	1

Early Life and Sports

Starting with Wrestling

Corey Anderson grew up in Rockton, Illinois. He began wrestling when he was in third grade. In high school, he became a regional champion. He also finished third at the Freestyle State Championships.

After high school, Corey went to Lincoln College. He had an injury in his first year. But he later became an All-American wrestler. He also won first place at the Regional Championships twice.

Corey then moved to Newberry College and later to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. As a senior, he had an amazing record of 46 wins and only 5 losses. He finished second at the 2012 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. This was the highest finish in his school's history. He graduated with a degree in business.

How He Started MMA

While wrestling at UW-Whitewater, Corey met Ben Askren. Ben was a champion in Bellator MMA and an Olympic wrestler. Ben noticed Corey's quick movements like a boxer. He encouraged Corey to try mixed martial arts.

At first, Corey wasn't sure. But Ben tricked him into going to an MMA practice. Corey thought it was for freestyle wrestling. Later, Corey trained with other professional fighters. His coach, Bobby Brents, encouraged him to try out for The Ultimate Fighter.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Winning The Ultimate Fighter

Corey Anderson joined the TV show The Ultimate Fighter in 2014. This show helps new fighters get into the UFC. He won his first fight to get into the house. He was chosen as the first light heavyweight fighter for Team Edgar.

Corey used his wrestling skills to win his quarter-final and semi-final fights. He won both by decision. This earned him a spot in the show's finale.

Fighting in the UFC

Corey faced Matt Van Buren in the finale on July 6, 2014. He won very quickly by TKO in just 61 seconds. This made him the light heavyweight tournament winner. It was also the fastest finish ever in a Ultimate Fighter finale.

After winning, Corey continued to fight in the UFC. He won his next fight against Justin Jones. In April 2015, he fought Gian Villante and lost. But their fight was so exciting that it won the Fight of the Night award.

Corey then won several fights in a row. He defeated Jan Błachowicz, Fábio Maldonado, and Tom Lawlor. In May 2016, he had a close fight with Maurício Rua and lost by a split decision.

He bounced back with a TKO win against Sean O'Connell. In 2017, he faced Jimi Manuwa and Ovince Saint Preux, losing both fights by knockout.

Corey then went on another winning streak. He defeated Patrick Cummins, Glover Teixeira, and Ilir Latifi by unanimous decision. In November 2019, he won against Johnny Walker by TKO. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

In February 2020, Corey had a rematch with Jan Błachowicz. He lost this fight by knockout in the first round.

Moving to Bellator MMA

In August 2020, Corey Anderson signed with Bellator MMA. He made his first fight there in November 2020. He won by TKO against Melvin Manhoef.

In 2021, Corey joined the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix. This was a big tournament for the light heavyweight title. He won his quarter-final fight against Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. Then, in the semi-finals, he quickly defeated Ryan Bader by TKO in the first round.

Corey reached the finals of the Grand Prix in April 2022. He fought the champion, Vadim Nemkov, for the title and a $1 million prize. The fight ended in a "no contest" because of an accidental head clash. Nemkov was unable to continue.

The rematch with Nemkov happened in November 2022. Corey lost this fight by unanimous decision. He then won against Phil Davis in June 2023.

Becoming Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion

The Bellator Light Heavyweight title became empty. So, Corey Anderson fought Karl Moore for the championship on March 22, 2024. Corey won the fight by unanimous decision. He used his strong wrestling skills to control the match. This made him the new Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion.

Corey was scheduled to fight Vadim Nemkov again in January 2025. This time it would be a heavyweight fight. However, Corey later said the fight was off.

Achievements and Awards

Corey Anderson has achieved a lot in his fighting career:

• Bellator MMA
  • Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion (One time)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • The Ultimate Fighter 19 Tournament Winner
  • Fight of the Night (One time) against Gian Villante
  • Performance of the Night (One time) against Johnny Walker
  • UFC.com Awards
    • 2014: Newcomer of the Year
    • 2015: Ranked #10 Fight of the Year against Gian Villante
    • 2018: Ranked #10 Fighter of the Year (tied) and Ranked #6 Upset of the Year against Glover Teixeira
• MMAJunkie.com
  • 2015 April Fight of the Month against Gian Villante

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Mixed Martial Arts Exhibition Record

See also

In Spanish: Corey Anderson para niños

• List of current Bellator fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists