Corey Anderson prefers to stroll the stroll quite than speak the speak and he is aware of for a incontrovertible fact that’s affected among the alternatives made available-and not made available-to him throughout his profession.
The last-ever Bellator gentle heavyweight champion was as soon as ranked among the many prime fighters at 205 kilos within the UFC, nevertheless it appeared like he by no means acquired near title shot regardless of spectacular wins over fighters reminiscent of Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, and Johnny Walker. Anderson ultimately requested for his launch from the UFC earlier than signing with Bellator after which ultimately transitioning into the PFL the place he’s received a championship and most just lately took out 2024 heavyweight champion Denis Goltsov through dominant second-round TKO.
Regardless of all that, Anderson thinks he stays one of the crucial underrated fighters within the historical past of the game and at the very least a part of that comes right down to advertising and marketing.
“I by no means marketed myself,” Anderson advised MMA Preventing. “I wasn’t one to be on social media on a regular basis posting stuff like ‘I’m going to knock this man out,’ posting sparring, beating guys or posting highlights of me coaching and combating. I publish household stuff. I’m a household man. I publish stuff round my home with my spouse and youngsters.
“I publish stuff with combating very hardly ever. I’m doing a bit of bit extra of it now however particularly now within the informal section, it’s all about what your social media appears like.”
Whereas he’s been a ranked fighter for almost all of his combating profession, Anderson doesn’t have the flashiest, fan-friendly fashion and he’s by no means going to be mistaken for a prolific trash talker. His résumé speaks for itself however even getting a wins over hyped-up opposition, Anderson has hardly ever benefited from these performances.
The clearest instance is Anderson’s 2019 knockout over Johnny Walker, who was being talked about as a prospect worthy of incomes Jon Jones’ consideration. On the time, Jones was the reigning gentle heavyweight champion and he was desperately in want of recent competitors so Walker appeared to suit the invoice.
Anderson ended that speak after he bludgeoned Walker with punches to attain a first-round end, however that didn’t instantly make him a family title by any means.
“You’ve acquired these children on the market they see Johnny Walker’s [social media] web page. We all know what occurred once I fought Johnny Walker,” Anderson defined. “I meet children on the fitness center nowadays and I’ve UFC shorts on or a shirt and [they say] ‘Oh the place did you get that from? Did you get that off eBay?’ I checked out one and I stated for those who don’t kick this child out of the fitness center, did you hear what they only stated? He requested if I acquired these shorts off eBay!
“You recognize he knocked Johnny Walker out, proper? ‘You fought Johnny Walker!’ That’s the factor, these children know these guys due to social media. The day and age of MMA and followers, they know you by your social media. So that you’ve acquired a social media with 1.5 million or 3.1 million like Johnny Walker, you’re in all probability a famous person! They suppose you’re the best there’s. The best way I grew up within the sport, it was about how good you have been. Not how good your social media was.”
Maybe the harshest lesson Anderson discovered was throughout a dialog with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell simply earlier than he was making ready to face Walker in what may have been a possible No. 1 contender’s bout at gentle heavyweight.
“Hunter Campbell, once I left the UFC earlier than the Johnny Walker battle, he had a dialog with me and he advised me ‘We will’t offer you a title battle, it’s one hundred pc that you just deserve a title battle, however we will’t give it to you as a result of your social media isn’t there,’” Anderson revealed. “It’s not about who’s one of the best anymore. It’s about who’s going to place butts within the seats. The followers decide who’s one of the best fighter off who has the largest social media [following].”
There’s little doubt that recognition performs a component in matchmaking.
Look no additional than the present buzz round Paddy Pimblett doubtlessly getting a title shot towards new UFC light-weight champion Ilia Topuria. Based mostly on rankings and accomplishments, Pimblett hasn’t essentially earned that chance however he’s an enormous star and he has actual unhealthy blood with Topuria from a risky interplay between them just a few years in the past.
That sort of animosity sells fights to not point out Pimblett and Topuria are each reputable attracts with followers.
It’s a reality of life Anderson has come to just accept, however he’s not going to out of the blue attempt to change his character simply to get extra consideration, even when which means he may need to work twice as laborious because the man keen to play that recreation.
“You don’t even must be good at combating anymore,” Anderson stated. You’ve simply acquired to have good social media.
“Guys are getting title fights like Derrick Lewis, he acquired a title battle as a result of he went on the market and stated, ‘My balls are scorching.’ He acquired 2.1 million followers in a single day. Guess what they did? Nicely, proper now he’s scorching so we’re going to offer him a title battle as a result of his social media is booming.”
Along with his newest win within the PFL, Anderson has positioned himself to compete at both heavyweight or gentle heavyweight and he hopes there are large fights awaiting him. Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou might be the largest prize obtainable, however Anderson can’t say for sure if that battle is definitely a risk.
All Anderson can do proper now could be proceed to work laborious and attempt to make himself as unbeatable as attainable to anyone standing throughout the cage from him.
“It’s about time individuals put some respect on my title,” Anderson stated. “I don’t suppose they ever will however they need to. You hear individuals speaking ‘Corey’s this, Corey’s nonetheless that, they overpaid.’ What are you speaking about? I’ve been right here 13 years and I’ve by no means backed down from no person. I fought each who’s who there’s however Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson. I’ve dominated a number of them. No, I’m not flashy. No, I’m not fancy. However I’m not going to say no to no person.
“I don’t care who the title is. When [my manager] Ali [Abdelaziz] referred to as me with this battle [saying] ‘brother, I’ve acquired a battle for you.’ Like who’s it? [He said] ‘it’s Goltsov.’ Give me a contract. You recognize it’s heavyweight proper? Give me a contract.”
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