Former Bellator light heavyweight champs Ryan Bader and Vadim Nemkov have both made a successful transition to heavyweight— and current contender Corey Anderson could be next.
Anderson (17-6, 1NC) faces Karl Moore this Friday at Bellator Belfast, with the title vacated by Nemkov on the line. If all goes well and things aren’t too busy at 205lbs, Anderson is game to move up a division.
“100%. Especially if the fights slow down, there’s nobody next in line,” Anderson told Cageside Press during this week’s Bellator Belfast media day. “Right away after 205, I want to stay active. 100%.”
“I got the belt here, I finished that business, there’s no other fights lined up,” continued Anderson, “let me go up to heavyweight and start picking at that division and earn my way up to a title shot there as well.”
With Vadim Nemkov having moved up and picked up a win over Bruno Cappelozza last month, Anderson could see pursuing a third fight with the Russian at heavyweight as well. The pair met twice as part of Bellator’s light heavyweight grand prix; the first bout ended in a No Contest, the second in a decision win for Nemkov to close out the tournament.
In fact, Nemkov at heavyweight is a fight Anderson has already asked for.
“When we was waiting, we didn’t know what was going on with the buyout and everything, I hadn’t had any fight news or anything heard from anybody. I heard Nemkov was going up and I wasn’t sure who he was going to fight; as soon as it was posted he was going to heavyweight I texted Mike Kogan, I was like ‘yo, I’m sitting out, let me fight him at heavyweight,'” revealed Anderson.
“I’ll fight him there. I don’t care, I’ll be his debut fight at heavyweight. I just want to get that trilogy back. So whether it’s at heavyweight or he ends up coming back down to 205, 100%, that’s a fight I would love to get back.”
Watch the full Bellator Belfast media day appearance by Corey Anderson above.
