PHOENIX – [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] doesn’t need to fight Vadim Nemkov to feel like the best fighter in the world.
At Bellator 268, Anderson (16-5 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) ran through fellow former UFC contender Ryan Bader in hostile territory and won the fight by 51-second TKO stoppage. The win sets him up with Nemkov (14-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) in a grand prix final fight not yet set.
The fight to determine the best light heavyweight in Bellator hasn’t officially taken place but Anderson already is confident he’s not only the best fighter in the promotion – but in the world.
In 2015, Anderson defeated current UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz before the Polish fighter knocked him out in 2019. Anderson also holds a unanimous decision victory over next title challenger Glover Teixeira, who fights Blachowicz in the UFC 267 headliner on Oct. 30.
“I already know I’m the best light heavyweight in the world,” Anderson told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “I already know the Jan (Blachowicz) it was a hiccup of mine in my own shield. I’m not going to say I underestimated him but I looked past him. I was thinking, ‘I whooped the sh*t out of this dude once and I’m going to do it again.’ But I shouldn’t have. I should have taken it one fight at a time.
“Like I’ve said in interviews all week. I learned my lesson. Now, I’m always worried about the moment now. I’m not worried about what’s the next. I’m not looking past anybody or anything or any moment. I know I can dominate Jan again. I know I can do the same thing that I did in 2015 when I only had six or seven fights under my belt. Now, even better with only 21 or 22.”
Bellator 268 took place Saturday at Footprint Center. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
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