26-Apr-19
This podcast features UFC Light Heavyweight fighter Corey Anderson, discussing his journey in MMA and the vital role of strength, conditioning, and mental fortitude in achieving success. Anderson shares his unique approach to training, emphasizing discipline, consistency, and a constant drive to prove doubters wrong. Underlying themes explore the power of mental resilience, the importance of surrounding oneself with a supportive team, and the challenges of navigating a demanding career.
1. Corey Anderson’s Transformation from Lazy to Disciplined:
- Corey Anderson recounts his early life as a lazy, unmotivated teenager, struggling with both academics and athletics.
- A significant ankle injury in high school served as a turning point, forcing him to confront his laziness and develop a newfound drive.
- Anderson credits his father’s unwavering belief in hard work and his mother’s dedication to his academic success as key influences in his transformation.
- He emphasizes that a major shift in mindset, fueled by a desire to prove doubters wrong, propelled him towards a disciplined and dedicated approach to life.
2. Corey Anderson’s Unique Training Regimen:
- Anderson reveals a meticulously planned training schedule, emphasizing punctuality, consistency, and a focus on mastering specific skills.
- He prioritizes strength and conditioning, particularly compound lifts and clean eating, including a diet rich in venison and other wild game.
- He utilizes heart rate monitors to track progress, optimize recovery time, and push himself to the limit during cardio sessions.
- Anderson embraces a holistic approach, incorporating practices like brain tap and float tank therapy to enhance mental focus and relaxation.
3. The Importance of Wrestling in MMA:
- Anderson emphasizes the significant advantage wrestling provides in MMA, allowing fighters to dictate the fight’s location and impose their will on opponents.
- He highlights the dominant presence of wrestlers in the UFC, citing fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov as examples of how wrestling can control a fight.
- He credits his strong wrestling background as a crucial factor in his success in MMA, enabling him to take down and control opponents even against seasoned strikers.
- Anderson believes his wrestling skills, honed through years of dedication, have allowed him to compete at a high level despite a shorter MMA career than many of his peers.
4. Corey Anderson’s Experience with Mark Henry and the Unique Coaching Style:
- Anderson details his unique relationship with Mark Henry, a quiet but highly respected MMA coach who emphasizes movement and technical precision.
- Henry uses a complex system of codes and phrases, often in different languages, to communicate with his fighters during training and fights, aiming to keep them sharp and engaged.
- This unconventional approach, while initially confusing, has proven effective, fostering a high level of communication and a deep understanding between Henry and his fighters.
- Anderson praises Henry’s dedication to his fighters and his willingness to go above and beyond, even learning multiple languages to ensure optimal communication.
5. The Importance of a Strong Team and Camaraderie:
- Anderson emphasizes the crucial role of his training partners and coaches, highlighting the supportive and familial atmosphere within their camp.
- He credits his team for pushing him to constantly improve, offering valuable insight and encouragement throughout his journey.
- The close-knit community, filled with world-class fighters and experienced coaches, fosters a positive environment that allows athletes to focus on their goals without unnecessary distractions.
- Anderson’s connection with his team extends beyond the gym, with shared hunting trips and social gatherings strengthening their bond and creating a sense of belonging.
6. Corey Anderson’s Views on John Jones and the UFC:
- Anderson acknowledges John Jones as one of the greatest fighters of all time, highlighting his skills and dominance in the Light Heavyweight division.
- He expresses frustration with the UFC’s perceived preferential treatment of Jones, highlighting instances where Jones has received special privileges and exemptions.
- Anderson believes that all fighters deserve equal treatment and opportunities, regardless of their ranking or fame.
- This sense of inequality fuels Anderson’s desire to prove himself against the best, ultimately aiming to dethrone Jones and claim the Light Heavyweight title.
7. The Challenges of Weight Cutting in MMA:
- Anderson discusses the grueling process of weight cutting, highlighting the negative impact it can have on performance and health.
- He emphasizes that excessive weight cutting can lead to dehydration, dizziness, and even impaired cognitive function, making fighters vulnerable to strikes.
- Anderson advocates for weight classes with smaller gaps, suggesting a system that encourages fighters to compete at their natural weights.
- He believes that eliminating extreme weight cuts would promote healthier and more competitive fights, benefiting both athletes and the sport.
8. Corey Anderson’s Passion for Hunting:
- Anderson reveals his deep passion for hunting, highlighting the importance of it as a source of relaxation, rejuvenation, and mental clarity.
- He discusses his elk hunting trips, showcasing his expertise with a bow and arrow, emphasizing the challenges and rewards of the sport.
- Anderson promotes the ethical and sustainable aspects of hunting, arguing that it provides a more humane and natural way of consuming meat.
- He aims to use his platform to challenge negative perceptions of hunting and promote its positive aspects through his YouTube channel.
9. Corey Anderson’s Future Goals:
- Anderson remains focused on achieving success in the UFC, aiming to become a champion and prove his worth within the organization.
- He is not ruling out the possibility of exploring other MMA organizations, particularly One Championship, if he feels his potential isn’t fully recognized within the UFC.
- Anderson is also exploring a potential career in hunting, leveraging his passion for the sport to build a following and educate others about the ethical aspects of hunting.
- He believes that his unique combination of athletic prowess, mental fortitude, and dedication will continue to propel him towards success in both MMA and hunting.
5 Memorable Quotes:
- “I just knew what I had to do to be the best me. And like I said, getting bigger, stronger, not worrying about keeping my weight low. The weight is going to come off. It’s going to be hard sometimes, but it’s going to come off.”
- “I always study little guys’ films, you know, like the Henry’s who do films and shit like that when I was in college. That’s just what I watched. Of course, I watch heavyweight, and I’m like, nah, I want to move. I want footwork. I want to fake. I want to take shots. Like, I let my team take downs as a heavyweight because I moved around as a big guy.”
- “I’m very calculated when it comes to camp because this is my career, you know. I’m serious about this. I’m not showing up late. Like, I go to boxing gyms with guys and we’re always sparring at six o’clock, so I show up at five forty-five, six forty-five, they still not there, he’s putting on walking, like none’s wrong, talking and dancing. Like, yo, you said six o’clock. Right now, you’re a professional, ain’t you? Quick act like an amateur, get here on time, let’s go. This is your camp. I’m here to help you. Even that makes me mad, but when it’s my camp, me showing up, it’s not fun because I know I’m not gonna get tired, so I’m just gonna beat on you.”
- “I’m not fighting for the fans, I’m fighting for myself. I’m just trying to win. My style ain’t exciting, but that’s because you’re not a mixed martial arts fan, you’re a fan of a knockout, or you’re a fan of some fancy stuff. They’re talking Johnny Walker of this isn’t this. Johnny Walker hasn’t shown mixed martial arts shit, he’s showing fancy stuff. They’re not people. It looks great, yes, but just like Anthony Smith and all those guys, when they get in front of somebody like John Jones, and you can’t hit him with that one punch.”
- “You just have to stop worrying about excuses to get out of progress and forget immediate gratification. It was a graduate. As I was healing, you know, I was on bed rest for a while, you know, so bad. And people come in and out. My brothers used to come over at the time, he’s playing football and whatever, and watching his games. It’s just like sitting there for so long away from all the sports and all your friends, you just sitting there just yourself. And I just realized, like I’ve been doing this, and start great. I’ve seen the stuff a million times, I know the moves. I just don’t apply. Yeah. I think when I get back, if I actually start trying and drilling and actually practicing and getting that extra workout in, I could cut up. Sure. Now, that’s what happened.”