Don’t tell Corey Anderson that the third time isn’t a charm.
He may put you in a choke hold.
The Rockton native defeated Karl Moore to win the light heavyweight championship in the main event of the Bellator Champions Series: Belfast on Friday night. The title came in the former UFC contender’s third try to win a Bellator crown.
After five rounds at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Anderson (18-6, 11-5 BMMA) took the unanimous decision by scores of 49-46, 49-46, 50-45.
Moore (12-3, 4-1 BMMA) made certain it wasn’t a cakewalk. Moore connected in the first round with some heavy left hands and a kick to Anderson’s head. Anderson got a takedown before the bell and quickly regrouped to win the round with some dominating wrestling.
The Hononegah High School graduate, who wrestled at UW-Whitewater, stuck to utilizing those skills in the second round. In the third round, Moore tried to lock him in an armbar, but Anderson slipped out of the hold.
As much as Moore wanted to keep the fighters on their feet and strike with punches, Anderson was able to keep it on the ground where he held the upper hand. Ten years after winning “The Ultimate Fighter,” Anderson accomplished his life dream.
Anderson’s previous title bouts were against Vadim Nemkov. In the first matchup, he was leading but a clash of heads resulted in a no-contest just seconds before the third round ended. In the rematch, Nemkov won a unanimous decision.
When Nemkov moved to heavyweight he vacated the light heavyweight championship, giving a chance to Anderson to convert on his third try. Anderson has been fighting professionally for over a decade. He began in the Ultimate Fighting Championship ranks, but wasn’t given a title opportunity so he signed with Bellator in 2020 and now four years later, he’s a champion.
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