Corey Anderson carries the look of a big fish in a somewhat smaller pond after leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship to sign a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 19 winner made a strong first impression in his Bellator 251 promotional debut on Nov. 5, as he put away Melvin Manhoef with a volley of second-round elbows. Anderson, 31, has rattled off five wins across his last six appearances and figures to move into contention for Bellator’s light heavyweight title sooner rather than later. The next six to 12 months will reveal much about the trajectory of the Rockford, Illinois, native’s career.