Tag: Corey Anderson

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 2: Manon Fiorot climbs closer to top

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC on ESPN 54 in New Jersey.

Following UFC on ESPN 54, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings required updating.

Making her case for a title fight even stronger, [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag] shut out Erin Blanchfield in the UFC on ESPN 54 main event in front of a sold-out crowd at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. It was a dominant performance for Fiorot, who kept her UFC unbeaten record alive, while handing Blanchfield her first loss in the promotion. Entering the week at No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s flyweight rankings, Fiorot jumps two spots to claim No. 3.

Also making a splash this week is [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag], who enters the welterweight rankings after stopping Vicente Luque with heavy ground and pound. Buckley has won three straight since dropping down from middleweight, and settles in at the No. 14 spot, while Luque falls to the honorable mentions.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 26: Corey Anderson rises with title win

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following Bellator Champions Series: Belfast and UFC on ESPN 53 in Las Vegas.

Following UFC on ESPN 53 and Bellator Champions Series: Belfast, the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings required updating.

At the Bellator event in Northern Ireland, [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] defeated Karl Moore by unanimous decision to claim the vacant light heavyweight title. Along with Anderson’s new hardware comes a new spot in the rankings, as he climbs from No. 6 to No. 5.

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 53, former UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] won a flyweight fight over Amanda Ribas by unanimous decision. Entering the bout unranked at 125 pounds, Namajunas now has a number next to her name, settling in at No. 12.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Corey Anderson def. Karl Moore at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast: Best photos

Check out these photos from Corey Anderson’s title-winning victory over Karl Moore at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]’s vacant light heavyweight title victory over Karl Moore in the main event of Bellator Champions Series: Belfast. (Photos courtesy of Bellator MMA)

Bellator Champions Series: Belfast results: Corey Anderson outwrestles Karl Moore, wins vacant light heavyweight title

Corey Anderson wins the vacant Bellator light heavyweight title after defeating Karl Moore at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] finally got what he’s been chasing all of his career – a championship belt of a major MMA organization.

The former UFC contender and current Bellator fighter won the vacant light heavyweight title for the promotion after defeating [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] in the headliner of Bellator Champions Series: Belfast. The event went down on Friday at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Anderson (18-6 MMA, 11-5 BMMA) defeated Moore (12-3 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) by unanimous decision, winning 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45 on the three judges’ scorecards.

Anderson, who’s been fighting professionally for over a decade, won the vacant title after two previous attempts. In November 2022, he lost to then-champion Vadim Nemkov and previously fought Nemkov to a no-contest in April 2022. Anderson also came close to fighting for a title in the UFC, as he was a top contender for many years, but the opportunity never materialized.

Although it was a clear win for Anderson, he had to work for it, given that Moore was constantly looking for a way to win. He stunned Anderson in the first with a hook and then came close to getting an armbar in the third.

Regardless, Anderson was able to take down and control the Irishman throughout the fight while also landing ground-and-pound. It was a smart and measured performance by Anderson.

Anderson now finds himself on a two-fight winning streak, as he defeated Phil Davis in a split decision in his previous bout back in June. Anderson now adds world champion to his resume, along with an impressive list of names he’s defeated in the past, such as Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira, Davis, Ryan Bader, Johnny Walker, and others.

On the other hand, Moore saw a four-fight winning streak come to an end. He had been undefeated since joining Bellator in 2019. In his previous fight, he defeated Alex Polizzi in a unanimous decision.

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Up-to-the-minute BCS: Belfast results include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Bellator Champions Series: Belfast faceoff video: Corey Anderson, Karl Moore size up for vacant title

The Bellator light heavyweight title is up for grabs, and Corey Anderson and Karl Moore faced off one last time before their Belfast clash.

Bellator returns Friday with its first event of 2024, and the vacant light heavyweight title will be on the line in the main event.

The first card promoted by PFL, Bellator Champions Series: Belfast is headlined by [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (17-6) vs. [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-2). The two veterans will fight in a five-round bout for the championship vacated by Vadim Nemkov, who moved to heavyweight.

Anderson and Moore remained respectful but intense at Thursday’s ceremonial faceoffs, as Bellator/PFL analyst Dan Hardy raised the title gold above them.

Check out the BCS: Belfast main event faceoff in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Video: Bellator Champions Series: Belfast ceremonial weigh-ins, faceoffs live stream

Watch a live stream of the Bellator Champions Series: Belfast ceremonial fighter weigh-ins on Thursday.

Bellator Champions Series: Belfast ceremonial fighter weigh-ins take place Thursday, and you can catch a live video stream of the proceedings here on MMA Junkie at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).

The weigh-ins take place in Belfast Northern Ireland, where Bellator Champions Series: Belfast takes place Friday at SSE Arena. The main card streams on Max after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Two title fights are on the docket as in the main event, [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (17-6) and [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-2) meet for the vacant Bellator light heavyweight title. In the co-main event, featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-7) will look to notch his second title defense against [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] (19-3).

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Bellator Champions Series: Belfast weigh-in results: Title fights official, one fighter heavy

Check out the results from the official Bellator Champions Series: Belfast fighter weigh-ins in Northern Ireland.

The official weigh-ins for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast are in the books, and all but one fighter hit their marks.

In the main event, [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] (17-6) and [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-2) will battle for the vacant Bellator light heavyweight title. Both fighters weighed in at 204.6 pounds.

In the co-headliner, featherweight champion [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag] (34-7) defends his title against [autotag]Jeremy Kennedy[/autotag] (19-3). They each hit 145 pounds on the dot.

[autotag]Vikas Singh Ruhil[/autotag] (12-7) was the lone fighter who missed weight. Ruhil fights against [autotag]Nathan Kelly[/autotag] (9-2) at featherweight, but he weighed in at 147 pounds and will be fined a percentage of his purse. Kelly was on proper weight at 146.

The weigh-ins took place at the Bellator host hotel. The SSE Arena in Belfast, hosts Friday’s event, which has a main card on Max following prelims on MMA Junkie.

The full Bellator Champions Series: Belfast weigh-in results included:

MAIN CARD (Max 3 p.m. ET)

  • Corey Anderson (204.6) vs. Karl Moore (204.6) – for vacant light heavyweight title
  • Champ Patricio Freire (145) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (145) – for featherweight title
  • Fabian Edwards (185.6) vs. Aaron Jeffery (185.2)
  • James Gallagher (145.4) vs. Leandro Higo (145.1)
  • Manoel Sousa (155.6) vs. Tim Wilde (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 12 p.m. ET)

  • Ciaran Clarke (135.5) vs. Darius Mafi (135.3)
  • Nathan Kelly (146) vs. Vikas Singh Ruhil (147)*
  • Abraham Bably (257.4) vs. Isaiah Pinson (242)
  • Grant Neal (205.4) vs. Luke Trainer (203.8)
  • Alfie Davis (155.6) vs. Oscar Ownsworth (155)
  • Jordan Elliott (129.5) vs. Nate Kelly (129.1) – 130-pound contract weight

*Singh Ruhil missed the featherweight limit and will be fined a percentage of his purse.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Corey Anderson ‘leaving no stone unturned’ at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast in third title chance

Corey Anderson maximized his preparation for his third and potential final opportunity to claim the Bellator light heavyweight title.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] maximized his preparation and left “no stone unturned” in his third and potential final opportunity to claim the Bellator light heavyweight title.

After two failed attempts to capture the belt from ex-champ Vadim Nemkov, the longtime veteran Anderson hopes the third time is the charm when he takes on Karl Moore for the vacant 205-pound strap in Friday’s Bellator Champions Series: Belfast main event, which takes place at SSE Arena in Northern Ireland.

Anderson (17-6 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) admits he did his due diligence in training camps for the fights with Nemkov, but that wasn’t the case this time around. He expects no surprises from Moore (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) on fight night.

“I’ve had enough fights where I’ve seen and done it all,” Anderson told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’ve been in the game for 10 years, in the big time. UFC and Bellator for 10 years. … No matter what Karl Moore throws, I’m 100 percent sure I’ve got the answer for it. I’m ready. I’m not going to be caught off guard.”

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Anderson, 34, and Moore, 32, get this opportunity as a result of Nemkov relinquishing the belt to move up to the heavyweight division. Anderson hasn’t let the his rivalry with the Russian go just yet, and could see a trilogy bout in the future.

There could be all sorts of other opportunities for Anderson on the horizon, too, especially in the new Bellator era since PFL purchased the promotion. But first things first, Anderson needs this win against Moore.

“After I get the belt, anything is possible,” Anderson said. “If they give me the opportunity to go up to heavyweight and fight Nemkov, 100 percent percent. Let’s go. … My thing is I have to finish my business at 205 (pounds) first.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.

Matchup Roundup: New UFC, PFL, Bellator fights announced in the past week (Feb. 5-11)

Check out the UFC, PFL, and Bellator fights that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Feb. 5-11.

Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore vacant title fight headlines Bellator’s 2024 debut in Belfast

Corey Anderson will hope the third time is the charm in his attempt to capture the Bellator light heavyweight title.

[autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] will hope the third time is the charm in his attempt to capture the Bellator light heavyweight title.

After longtime champ Vadim Nemkov vacated the belt to move up to the heavyweight division, a plan has been set in motion to crown a new titleholder, with Anderson (17-6 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) set to take on [autotag]Karl Moore[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) in the headliner of a March 22 event expected to take place in Belfast, Ireland. A venue and broadcast plans haven’t been revealed.

It will be the first Bellator branded fight card since the promotion was acquired by PFL late last year.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with a person close to the situation following an initial report from Ariel Helwani. The person requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

Anderson, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, came up short in back-to-back fights with then-champ Nemkov in 2022, seeing the first fight end in a no contest before the rematch resulted in a unanimous decision loss. The 34-year-old rebounded in June, beating Phil Davis by split decision at Bellator 297.

Now “Overtime” will finally try to get his hands on the belt, but standing in his way will be Moore, who has put together a four-fight winning streak since joining Bellator in September 2019. The 32-year-old has only been finished once in his career, and that was a submission defeat to UFC veteran Paul Craig in September 2015.