Corey Anderson. Photo: Instagram/Corey Anderson
Corey Anderson details a gruesome injury that cast doubt on his UFC career and put life after fighting into perspective.
Corey Anderson suffered a near career-ender one week after his knockout loss to Jan Blachowicz, and Anderson’s fellow fighters are relieved to know he is on the mend.
Anderson (13-5) posted a shocking photo to Instagram on Monday. The gruesome image shows “Overtime” in a hospital bed with a severely swollen face. According to Anderson, the accident occurred on Feb. 21 — exactly one week after the Blachowicz loss.
“Following my last fight, I blacked out and collapsed smashing my face on a gravel road after scouting some land for hours,” Anderson captioned the post. “[I] ended up in the E.R. for five days running numerous tests and blood work to figure out what happened. I [have] seen a long list of different doctors, all but one said it was do to [a] major concussion and lack of water and food after hiking through the woods for hours. One doctor would tell me it was my heart… that my heart had stopped beating and it could happen again, but next time in a fight!”
“I would take many trips to NYU hospital, meeting several different specialists during many more test and undergoing two very painful outpatient heart procedures to find more evidence to go along with that ONE doctor’s notes,” the light-heavyweight contender continued. “He had put a complete halt to my career as a fighter until it was clear my heart was safe to compete. And as of last monday night, I left hospital for the final time after my last procedure with [a] clearance note in hand, and the doctor telling me ‘Congrats, Mr. Anderson, I can let you go back to beating people up!’”
Anderson blamed the New Mexico’s athletic commission for failing him. He also described the experience as an eye-opener and offered words of caution to his colleagues.
“After my fight, the commission [and] medics failed to do the proper after fight check-up and I went back to living life as normal. And I paid a hefty price! This whirlwind five months have put A LOT of things into perspective,” he expressed. “I advise you other fighters to look after your health if you took some big shots to your head in a fight or practice, take the proper time to recover. It took me having my son sitting there looking at me in a hospital bed to realize there is real life after fighting and I want to be here to enjoy it. Fight smart, train smart, but recover and rest SMARTER! Use your head while you still have the brains to do so.”
Many of Anderson’s colleagues commented on the post, including former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, strawweight contender Michelle Waterson, and commentator Jon Anik.
Chris Weidman: “Wow glad to hear your good now!”
Marlon Moraes: “God Bless brother!!! Always in our prayers.”
Gian Villante: “Good to hear you are ok.”
Jon Anik: “Wow.”
Bryan Barberena: “Holy cow, man. Glad your ok and doing better and get to still chase this wild dream of fighting. True words spoken on taking care of your body and mind I’m working on doing better at that myself after long road of pushing through. Much love man, glad your back.”
Michelle Waterson: “Heal up stay strong!”
Gerald Meerschaert: “Holy s*** man!!! Glad you cleared that obstacle, stay healthy and stay hard!”
Hakeem Dawudo: “Get healthy my brother ? .”
Ryan LaFlare: “Glad you’re ok Corey!”
Anderson was on a promotional best four-fight winning streak with wins over Johnny Walker, Ilir Latifi, Glover Teixeira and Patrick Cummins, prior to the Blachowicz loss.