Anderson Explains UFC Release Comments

Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

After Corey Anderson knocked out Johnny Walker in the very first round at last Saturday’s (Nov. 2, 2019) UFC 244 event in New York, N.Y., “Overtime” eyed his next possible challenge, a title shot against Light Heavyweight king, Jon Jones.

In fact, while conducting interviews backstage immediately after his win, Walker stated that if the promotion didn’t give him what he had earned, then releasing him from his contract would probably be best for both parties.

More recently, Anderson told MMA Fighting. what he really said and meant before the “click bait media” ran a different direction.

“I have to clear that up. Media’s known for clickbaiting and I think I know what reporter said that but he didn’t say the whole interview. The interview in the back they said ‘what do you want next?’ and I said I want a title fight. I want Jon Jones my next fight,” he said.

“Then they mentioned Dominick Reyes and I said 100 percent, Dominick Reyes has been doing his work, he’s put in his time. I wanted to fight him but he’s earned this fight, too. I’m in no rush to fight for the title right now,” he added before explaining when the release requests came in.

“If Jon Jones wants to fight Dominick Reyes in December or January, that’s completely fine. I will take the winner of that. Then it went onto ‘but what if they try to take one of these new guys and bump them up in the rankings and put them in front of you — what if after Dominick Reyes, they push you to the back of the line again, what would you do?’ That’s when I said, if they’re going to do that to me, then release me,” he concluded.

Indeed, UFC president Dana White has stated that Reyes is the man who should challenge “Bones” next. That said, it leaves Corey to sit and wait for the winner, and to hope that the victory has a quick turnaround time.

That, or take another fight in the interim…perhaps against this man.