Corey Anderson, after leaving UFC for Bellator and experiencing a positive start under Scott Coker’s leadership, faces uncertainty and frustration due to lack of communication from PFL executives following their acquisition of Bellator, leading to concerns about his fighting future despite financial stability.
When Corey Anderson left the UFC for Bellator, he was hopeful. But even he couldn’t foresee how things would unfold.
A day after signing with Bellator, Anderson met with president Scott Coker. With assurances from matchmaker Mike Kogan, he felt he’d made the right choice. Yet, when PFL acquired Bellator in late 2023, Anderson found himself in a fog of unanswered questions.
As 2025 looms, Anderson’s been sidelined for nine months. He’s joined a chorus of Bellator fighters anxious about PFL’s plans.
“Bring Scott Coker back,” Anderson told MMA Fighting. “Meeting him sealed the deal for me. We shook hands, and he kept his word. That’s rare.”
Anderson hasn’t had the same rapport with PFL’s Pete Murray or Donn Davis. He met Pete briefly but never got a chance to discuss future plans. It’s unsettling.
Despite his frustrations, Anderson hasn’t demanded a release from PFL. Others like Patchy Mix and Patricio Pitbull have not been so patient.
Anderson gets why Mix and Pitbull are upset—it’s all about communication. “There’s no real plan,” he said. “With Coker and Kogan, I never worried; they were men of their word.”
When Bellator merged with PFL, Kogan called Anderson immediately, offering him a title fight in Ireland. A promise kept.
Yet, over a year later, Anderson still hasn’t spoken to his new bosses directly. Kogan remains his main contact.
“With Donn and Pete, it feels like they’re more Wall Street than fight game,” Anderson noted. “I just don’t know what their plans are.”
Donn’s tweets hint at big things next year. Anderson hopes it’s true—he doesn’t want another long layoff.
Initially set to return in January against Vadim Nemkov, that bout fell through without a replacement.
He’s been promised an early 2025 fight but has yet to see anything official.
Financially secure, Anderson isn’t desperate for a paycheck. But at 35, time isn’t on his side.
“I’m at peace,” he reflected. “If I had to walk away now, I’ve done everything I set out to do.”