Corey Anderson 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 Karl Moore 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.
COREY ANDERSON ESCAPES THE ARMBAR! 👀#BellatorBelfast | LIVE NOW
➡️ https://t.co/Dpuq4Xv6Jh pic.twitter.com/ttc8Zr0dMz— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) March 22, 2024
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.
Up-to-the-minute BCS: Belfast results include:
- Corey Anderson def. Karl Moore via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
- Patricio Freire def. Jeremy Kennedy via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:07
- Fabian Edwards def. Aaron Jeffery via unanimous decision (29-28,29-28, 29-28)
- Leandro Higo def. James Gallagher via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Manoel Sousa def. Tim Wilde via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 4:48
- Ciaran Clarke def. Darius Mafi submission (arm-triangle choke)
- Alfie Davis def. Oscar Ownsworth unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Luke Trainer def. Grant Neal unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Nathan Kelly def. Vikas Singh Ruhil knockout (elbow)
- Abraham Bably def. Isaiah Pinson unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event page for Bellator Champions Series: Belfast.
