Corey Anderson’s career as an established mixed martial artist (MMA) made its way into an established reputation with his impressive skills, to specifically denote his ability to knock opponent out with punches and assert his relentless approach to Mittel in the cage.All these made Corey Anderson a well-known name ever since he competed in the organizations, predominantly that of UFC and Bellator MMA.The entire span of his career is marked with numerous notable victories, hard-earned trophies, and few record-making moments.
Born on September 22, 1989, Corey Anderson was hailing from Rockton, Illinois. A high-school wrestler before, Corey Anderson was an obvious around-the-board athlete from wrestling and was known by the name of a strongman, conditioner, or other synonyms before making his way through the domain of professional combat sport. This is where a wrestling background was in all essence a solid foundation for Anderson’s foray into MMA, aspiring him to duck other opponents using a ground game-type style, clinch control, and, predominantly, wrestling-oriented moves.
Anderson made his MMA debut in 2011, joining the UFC in 2014 after a few years of developing his skills. The debut in the UFC was the turning point of the sunrise of a new name in the light heavyweight division.
Ripe Occasions: UFC Victories
Another highlighted feat in Anderson’s career was in 2015, when he won by unanimous decision over Jan Błachowicz during UFC 183.His win marked him as a force to reckon with in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division.Over the next couple of years, Anderson would continue to make his name while racking up victories against notable opponents, among them Patrick Cummins, Glover Teixeira, and Fabio Maldonado.
However, it was in 2015 that he really made history in the UFC for setting the fastest knockout in the light heavyweight division. After a first-round knockout, he got into the books with a time of 3:05. This performance kindled Anderson’s recognition as a brawny striker with knockout power.
Further, Anderson’s fight with Shogun Rua in 2016 was a sight to witness; it was a display of power and fight IQ. Anderson picked up a unanimous decision win, showing that his gradual evolution into a complete fighter was becoming increasingly apparent.
Record-Breaking Moment
In one of the major highlights of his career, Anderson set a record for the fastest KO in UFC light heavyweight history. An epic and very fast knockout of fellow combatant Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night 168 on February 15, 2020, cemented itself as one of the biggest duels in the mixed martial arts promotion’s history.
That first-round KO of just 17 seconds catapulted Anderson into stardom and folded him among the ranks of some of the elite fighters in the UFC. This fight further consolidated him as a dangerous knockout artist because of the names he carries with him and earned him the reputation-laden accolades allanfighting fans.
Besides his punching power, Anderson’s wrestling game has played a big part in his success. He has threatened to control and tire organizations while using wrestling to work within the clinch. With the combination of wrestling and striking, Anderson became a tough matchup for any opponent in the division.
Moving to Bellator MMA
After leaving UFC in 2021, Anderson signed with Bellator MMA, another major MMA promotion. He debuted in Bellator in April 2021, and since he has continued competing at a great level. This is the next chapter of his career in Bellator, where he has showcased some of the skills against the top fighters in the world outside of the Zuffa family.
With growing credit for building a legacy outside UFC, Anderson has made an effort to chase new records and additional championships with his time in Bellator. Bellator has opened more growth avenues and opportunities of continued success for him, as he breaks through the big leagues of the sport.
Awards and Recognition
Anderson has been awarded several distinguished honors throughout his MMA career. Some of his most significant awards include:
UFC Performance of the Night: After a gripping knockout win at UFC 183, Anderson was granted this honor.
Fastest Knockout in UFC Light Heavyweight History: His knockout at UFC Fight Night 168 took just 17 seconds.
Numerous Fight of the Night and Performance Bonuses: With his thrilling fighting approach, Anderson has received many performance bonuses and Fight of the Night accolades in the UFC.
Bellator MMA: His time with Bellator will still continue, during which he will get many more awards and recognition.
Conclusion
Corey Anderson’s journey as an MMA fighter is characterized by hard work, devotion, and unbelievable athleticism. Anderson has gone from wrestling in his early years to his great feats in the UFC and is now equal to his promotional brethren in Bellator MMA. He is simply a versatile fighter with a knockout that broke all records, supreme ground control, light-footedness, and many more awards and honors to boast of during the span of his career. As he continues to grow and showcases his skills against the top fighters at the highest level of MMA, Anderson’s subsequent records shall surely become a body of continued growth within the sport and become a legacy before posterity with massive records, victories, and iconic moments.
