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Nightmare Turns to Dream for Corey Anderson


“I woke up in a panic. I had to remind myself, 'I'm the champ.’”

Justin Barrasso

The MMA Notebook runs every week.

For years, Corey Anderson had the same recurring dream.

He’d be fighting for the title. Everything would be going his way, until one minor mistake would derail his pursuit.

Last week, Anderson dreamed that same dream. Yet, when he awoke, there was a startling difference.

“I woke up in a panic,” said Anderson. “I was in the hotel after the fight against Karl Moore, and I looked at the couch across from me–and the belt was there. I had to remind myself, ‘I’m the champ.’”

The third time was the charm for Anderson, 34, who defeated Moore last week at Bellator 302 to win the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship. The unanimous decision victory was not as smooth or flawless as Anderson (18-6, 1 NC) wanted, but his 11-year pursuit of championship gold finally reached its climax.

“I was disappointed in my performance,” said Anderson, who, despite his frustration, still put on a wrestling clinic. “I wanted the finish so bad. Moore had really tough takedown defense. He was hitting me with clean shots. I didn’t expect him to be that good.

“Then it hit me–‘I’m the champ.’ I've been through so much. Eleven years, I came into this game too green. I was in the UFC for six years, but I left because I couldn't get a title shot. Then I came to Bellator. It's been a long road. The lows have been low, testing my will. Losing that million dollars [in an unpredictable no-contest finish against Vadim Nemkov]. But I kept my head up, kept working with my team.

“Winning the title, it feels like a weight off my back,” said Anderson. “It feels great. But it feels weird. After chasing the belt for the last 10 years, now someone is chasing me.

Growing up just outside of Chicago, Anderson always had high expectations and great ambition. He started wrestling in the third grade, and his devotion to the craft has paid off. His next bout is likely this October in Chicago, where he will be able to come home as world champion.

“I’m not chasing it anymore,” said Anderson. “I’m always dreaming about becoming champ. My dream is now reality. I can finally call myself a world champion. Now it’s time for a new chapter to the story.”

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Published
Justin Barrasso

JUSTIN BARRASSO

Justin Barrasso has been writing for Sports Illustrated since 2014. While his primary focus is pro wrestling and MMA, he has also covered MLB, NBA, and the NFL. He can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.