Corey Anderson won season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter, but he wants more than just the TUF crown. Anderson returns this Saturday in a big spot at UFC 198, ready to prove he’s the best.

Illinois native Corey Anderson has a massive opportunity ahead of him this weekend, as the TUF 19 winner heads into hostile territory for a bout with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Maurício ‘Shogun’ Rua.

UFC 198 takes place at Arena da Baixada (a soccer stadium with a capacity of 40,000-plus) and is sure to be buzzing when the legendary Shogun approaches the Octagon for his bout with the 26-year-old in Anderson.

On a card that is loaded with talent, Brazilians and non-countrymen alike, the 8-1 light heavyweight can prove with a win that he is a force not to be ignored in the division.

Anderson was kind enough to give me a moment of his time while preparing for this big fight to do a brief interview. Before getting to that, though, let’s take a look at how “Beastin’ 25/8” has reached this point in his career.

A two-time collegiate All-American wrestler, Anderson finished as high as second in the nation while at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater during his senior year. His wrestling coach at the time and current head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Tim Fader, described Corey as “always an enjoyable guy to be around who is positive, confident, and loves putting on a show,” Fader added, “Corey has a good fighting spirit, and when challenged would not back down because his work ethic was extraordinary.”

Such determination and hard work transitioned well to mixed martial arts when Ben Askren convinced him to try the sport after his wrestling days were over. Soon thereafter, Anderson defeated Matt Van Buren at The Ultimate Fighter Finale and had earned a contract with the UFC.

Since his time on TUF, Anderson has amassed a record of 5-1 in the UFC with the lone hiccup coming in a “Fight of the Night” performance against Gian Villante when Anderson was knocked out in the final minute of the bout. After the loss, he has now bounced back with three straight unanimous decision victories over Jan Błachowicz, Fábio Maldonado, and most recently Tom Lawlor at UFC 196.

In our Q&A, Anderson talks about his wrestling career, his experience on The Ultimate Fighter as well as the current season’s cast, and what’s next as he attempts to continue climbing the ladder of the light heavyweight rankings.

Jake Krier: How much of your success in the UFC would you attribute to your wrestling background?

Corey Anderson: Mostly all of it since most of my fights I’ve won off my takedowns.

JK: You bounced around to three different wrestling programs during your college days (Lincoln, Newberry, and Whitewater). Was there any one thing that stuck with you from a coach or teammate that you still use as motivation in MMA today?

CA: One of my wrestling coaches told me, “You’re going to get out what you put in, and if you put the work in, you’re going to get the results.” I’ve lived by that every day since.

JK: For those who don’t know, Ben Askren actually persuaded you to give MMA a try. Do you still keep in contact with Ben, and do you foresee him ever fighting in the UFC?

CA: We don’t talk as much as we used to, but I talk to him every once in a blue moon. If I’m in Milwaukee or something about him pops up on TV, I’ll shoot him a text. He will also text me to say congratulations after a fight sometimes too. As far as him fighting in the UFC, Ben is doing what he has to do for ONE FC just like he did in Bellator. He’s making the money he needs to make to live, survive, and have a prosperous lifestyle, so he’s probably in no hurry to get to the UFC.

JK: You obviously had your big break with The Ultimate Fighter and by the looks of your social media accounts, you still have an avid interest in the show. What is it like watching TUF now after experiencing it first-hand?

CA: It’s a lot different than when I first watched the show and would catch it every now and then. When I watched it before I thought it was a cool show, but I didn’t think nothin’ of it. Now when I watch it, I know exactly what those young men and women are going through since I’ve been there. I did it for six weeks, and I understand what it’s like being stuck in a house with fifteen other people that you don’t know. It’s kind of like survival of the fittest, and you gotta do what you gotta do to be the champ. I respect the people a lot more after going through the show.

JK: You defeated current contestant Myron Dennis back in 2013. In addition to Dennis, what are your thoughts on the the current light heavyweights on the show?

CA: Yeah, Andrew Sanchez, who is also on the show, is one of my main training partners out here in New Jersey. He wrestled in Illinois as well. After we both graduated, we started training together. With him, I think the whole show is packed with heavy hitters, and it’s going to be a good season.

JK: What did you learn from the Gian Villante fight and how have you seen yourself grow since the loss?

CA: In that fight I learned that I have to keep my feet moving, I have a pretty good chin, and a lot of heart. I took a lot of big shots before he knocked me out. The fact that I went fourteen minutes before getting knocked out showed that I have the mindset of a warrior and the heart of a champion. I just want to be the best, and I know if I keep pushing, keep moving, and keep my hands up, it’s going to be hard to beat me.

JK:How excited are you to face a mixed martial arts legend in Shogun Rua, and what are your thoughts on the rest of this massive card you get to be a part of?

CA:I’m pretty ecstatic. I can’t wait to get to Brazil just so I know it’s real. I’m excited to get in the Octagon and fight not just a legend but the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Beating a legend like him gets your name in the history books. The whole card, really, is going to be history in the making. With it being the first time fighting in this soccer arena in Curitiba, Brazil with 45,000 screaming fans, it sold out in like an hour of the tickets going on sale. It’s just going to be crazy. (Cris) Cyborg, Anderson Silva, Jacare (Souza), Vitor Belfort, (Fabricio) Werdum. All these Brazilians. I’m just excited and can’t wait to get out there.

JK: You’ll be heading into hostile territory similar to when you fought Fábio Maldonado. Does the pro-Brazilian crowd bother you at all or does it provide added motivation?

CA: It’s kind of more motivation than anything. It’s like when you’re wrestling and you go to another team’s gym and it’s packed. Fans are cheering against you and they don’t want to see you win. You just feed off of ‘em, fighting to get the takedown, beat the guy, and shut the crowd up. That’s pretty much the same thing I did with Fabio. They went from chanting “uh vai morrer” to moans going “oh, oh”. That’s the goal every time when we go out there in Brazil.

JK: You had to dig deep when you fought and defeated Tom Lawlor in March. After a rough opening sequence in the first round, what would you say carried you to get back in that fight and ultimately earn the victory?

CA: Like I said earlier, my heart. I know what I work for, and when I go out there and get dazed, I can’t give up. You just gotta keep fighting. You can’t let a little bump or bruise end your career. I got rocked, but we train for this. I just had to survive and get back to my game plan.

JK: I know you are still young, but what comes down the road after fighting? Would you like to give back to the sport that you’ve grown fond of in some way?

CA: I’ll probably get back into coaching college wrestling like I did before fighting. And hopefully I’ll open up my own gym. Those two go hand-in-hand together in helping other people meeting their goals and chasing championships of their own.

JK: Final question: If you defeat Shogun, who’s next for you on your climb up the light heavyweight rankings?

CA: Right now, I’m only worrying about Shogun. But just know that I’m going to keep trying to climb the ladder.

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