LAS VEGAS – Corey Anderson’s recent switch from the UFC to Bellator may have raised a few eyebrows among the MMA fanbase, but the 30-year-old light heavyweight winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 19 has made clear that he thinks the move was the right one for his career – and UFC president Dana White agrees.
The UFC granted Anderson (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) his release to allow him to negotiate a deal with Bellator, and now “Overtime” will slot into the promotion’s competitive light heavyweight division as an instant contender at 205 pounds.
Anderson had previously told “The MMA Road Show” that the switch was a “no-brainer” and, speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage after UFC on ESPN 15, White offered a similar sentiment.
When asked why the UFC was willing to let Anderson go, White explained, “First of all, it’s the right move for him. This isn’t something that we’ve never done before.”
Anderson cited the benefits of being able to earn more money, gain more sponsorship, and still fight for a prestigious title while facing the same potential risks that he would in the UFC as the key factors behind his move. But White’s assessment focused more on his former fighter’s ability to succeed in the rival promotion.
“I think that he feels, and we feel, that he can be more competitive there,” White said.
