Corey Anderson is excited to begin a new chapter in his career while hinting at a throwback to a key element of his past.
Anderson (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was granted his release by the UFC and swiftly signed with Bellator, where he looks set to slot into the promotion as an instant contender for the light heavyweight title.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, Anderson explained the decision-making process that led him to choose Bellator.
“The end thing that I came to was, at the end of the day, it’s a calculated risk just like a fight.” Anderson said. “Both organizations, UFC and Bellator, they’ve got the same risks. You can go out there and get knocked out, arm broke, anything can happen. Now, one has the UFC belt, one has the Bellator belt. One doesn’t have sponsors, one has sponsors. One is only paying you a medium, when the other one is paying you your worth. That’s the calculated risk you’re gonna take.”
After weighing the offers and assessing those key differences between the two promotions, Anderson, who’s won four of his last five fights, came to the conclusion that moving to Bellator was clearly the right decision for him and his family.
“I’m gonna take more money, a belt, more opportunity, and the same risk that I would in the top organization,” Anderson said. “So, to me, it was a no-brainer. I’d be stupid if I passed up this opportunity because I wanted those three letters in front of the word ‘champ.’ So I went from UFC to Bellator on that.”
The fact that Anderson is able to fight with sponsors adorning his fight shorts and workout T-shirts opens up additional earning opportunities, and the fighter formerly known as “Beastin’ 25/8” revealed that, even though he still plans to fight under his newer moniker of “Overtime,” his old nickname might get a second life during his time as a Bellator fighter.
“I can bring sponsors back, and ‘Beastin’ 25/8′ is my company brand,” Anderson said. “So I can just put ‘Beastin’ 25/8′ on the shorts and still rep the name ‘OT.’ Because the company is still ‘Beastin’ 25/8, LLC’ – all my shirts and everything comes from Beastin’ 25/8. So the name will be on the shorts. You hear it here, people! The name will be back on the shorts!”