Anderson Releases Statement After UFC Rio Rancho KO Loss

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For years Corey Anderson has been toiling away in the UFC light heavyweight division trying to gain the respect he deserves. Winning The Ultimate Fighter 19 didn’t do it. Going 6-2 over his first three years of fighting for the promotion didn’t either. Neither did his four fight win streak coming into UFC Fight Night 167. But with a second win over Jan Blachowicz, it seemed like Anderson would be on the verge of a title shot and the recognition he deserved.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go according to plan – or perhaps they did and that’s why Anderson ended up getting knocked out in the first by Blachowicz. “Beastin’ 25/8” kept things standing instead of wrestling or at least mixing his striking with grappling and got outclassed on the feet. Blachowicz hit him with several counters before Anderson ran into a devastating right hand that flattened him three minutes into the first round (watch the finish here).

The haters rejoiced, led by none other than light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. But if Corey Anderson is dwelling on the defeat and how hard it will be to climb back up to where he was just 24 hours ago, you’d be wrong. He sent out an optimistic statement on social media simply titled “The funk don’t quit!”

”A great coach once told me ‘You have 5 minutes to sulk and then it’s on to the next one!’” he wrote. “We live and we learn. Back to the drawing board. I appreciate each and every fan and hater! A lose has never stopped me and it ain’t stopping me now. See yall at the top!”

The loss drops Anderson to 13-5 (10-5 UFC) and is hopefully a reminder for him to keep mixing them martial arts. He now splits fights with Jan Blachowicz, winning the one he wrestled the Polish light heavyweight in and losing the one he tried to strike against Blachowicz. Crazy how that works.