The Funky Monkey (MMA) Mixed Martial Arts News interviews undefeated professional mixed martial artist, Corey "The Beast" Anderson.

"My name is Corey Anderson, I am 23 years old, I am 2-0 pro 1-0 Ammy and I train out of Springfield, IL. I was born and raised in Rockton, IL where I was the youngest of four. I was a NCAA finalist in wrestling, 3x collegiate national qualifier, 2x collegiate All American at the heavyweight division; once at Lincoln College where I took 6th in 2010 and 2nd in 2012 at University of Wisconsin Whitewater. I finished my wrestling career with over 150 wins and only 24 loses and a 2x MVP and team captain. I been training MMA for a year now but had a past history in boxing through college where I was 2-0. I am now the Head Assistant Wrestling Coach at Lincoln College, in Lincoln Illinois and part time employee at Holland Trucking and Freight."

1. How did you get in to the sport?
During my 2011-2012 wrestling season, my coach told me he had a special guest for my to workout with. Little did I know this guy would be Ben Askren the current Bellator Champ ready to get a work out in with me. He would come in and work with me and a few of the guys once or twice a week throughout the season. Well when nationals was over I asked Ben about training for freestyle wrestling and he sent me a number to call and a address to meet him at. So I called the number Sunday afternoon and talk to a guy named Duke…. (me not knowing much about MMA didn't know who he was) we talked for bout 10 minutes and he told me he couldn't wait to get me in his gym and get to training. So the following Monday I traveled to the address sent to me and as I walked into the door I saw a sign that read "Roufusports Martial arts Academy" my first thought was… "man I'm in the wrong place, I'm looking for a wrestling gym". I walk into the door to the gym and Ben runs up to me and says "Welcome to Duke Roufus's gym and your new sport". I look around and I see Anthony "showtime" Pettis, Eric Koch, Sergio Pettis, and a bunch of fighters getting it in. And thats how I got in the sport.

2. What's your favorite strike/submission to use in any fight?
My favorite strike combination at the moment would have to be a jab, jab, cross to the stomach, back to the hook up top. I'm not much of a submission guy yet I'm all about the ground and pound.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?
My inspiration in everything I've done through my whole life has always been my older brother. No one important to anybody else but the reason why I do anything and everything I do! Since I was a kid his drive to be the best at everything he does has always pushed me to push that much harder. And if I had to pick a sport inspiration I'd go with Warren Sapp a maniac on the line and never scared to go up against anyone at anytime, always in the game giving it 150% at all times.

4. Which team are you training with in preparation for your next bout?
I train with the Kennel Fight Club out of Springfield, Il where I train with Bobby Brents ranked in the top 100 hwt fighters in the world, Dustin Jacoby UFC vet, Glory Kickboxing champ, WSOF vet , Kenny Robertson UFC vet, and Brian Foster UFC vet.

5. What is your favorite aspect of MMA? (grappling, striking, clinch work, etc.)
I have two favorite aspects, because my game plan they mess together so well because its what I'm good at. I like to strike and wrestle, because I use my striking to set up my wrestling.

6. What does it mean (for you) to be a fighter?
To be a a fighter to me means to be a Warrior!! A man/woman that steps out in practice/fights everyday and every night to grind it out until the end of it! Non stop, no excuses, no breaks, the whole time with the attitude of a beast. Not taking it easy on your team mates when they get tired, not half assing through training because "you don't feel well", and always staying positive even on the worst days in training or in the cage. And outside of the cage presenting yourself in the most professional manner possible. As fighters when people watch us we automatically get the label of "savages". So its our jobs as well to clean up our name for the name of the sport. In every aspect possible we have to be FIGHTERS!! Fighters for our name, the sport, and ourselves.

7. What separates you from every other fighter?
My mentality to never quit. I've been through so much and so many things throughout my life. So many moments when people telling me I can't, I won't, and I couldn't and no matter what they said I always continued to do what it is I wanted or had my mind set on doing. I snapped my leg in three places during my freshman season in college and going into surgery the Dr. had told me that I wouldn't be able to wrestle again after the surgery from the way everything had broke. Well the day they cut my out of my cast I returned to the mat no rehab or anything. Then two years later I was having problems with my blood pressure and heart rate as an athlete I was forced to go see a Dr. again for safety emergencies. They hooked me up to a EKG machine and did all kinds of test. A week before the national qualifier I get a call from my Dr. telling me I have an irregular heart beat and every time I would start to work hard and my heart rate would rise my heart would stop beating they said. They told me I couldn't wrestle anymore and they'd need to talk to a coach of mine. Well I kept it my little secret till after I qualified and told my assistant coach what was going on and I'll never forget the words he said to me "It's your life, you have to live with your decision whether it be to push forward when times get hard or quit when the times get hard but in the end its all choices you have to live with. But if you want to keep going it'll be our little secrets". The following week I All American'd for the first time in my career. And every since I've always had the attitude to never quit on anything!!! 

8. If you could have one dream fight with anyone, who would it be? 
I'd want to fight Muhammad Ali, I'd love to see what it'd be like to match against such speed and accuracy!! 

9. What do you want to be remembered for at the end of your career?
My handwork, determination, and tenacity to never quit and always go all out no matter what I had to do, where I had to do it, or who I had to do it against.

10. Thus far what is your greatest accomplishment in the sport?
My last fight (june 29th) when I got a short notice call to head out to Grant, Oklahoma and fight Bellator Veteran Myron "The Future" Dennis for the XFL light Heavyweight championship as the main event at the Rage on the River 3 and I ended up defeating him in a 5 round battle by unanimous decision 45-50 all judges for only my 3rd fight 2nd pro. During the battle I got my tooth knocked out but winning a battle never felt greater! 

11. Your nickname is 'The Beast' how did you get your nickname? 
Cuz everything I do I do it like a Beast! I got shirts and a quote on my walk out shirt that reads "Beastin 25/8" on the front and on the back it says "Cuz 24/7 won't cut it around here" And its not just a quote its a lifestyle that I live everyday! No days off and no breaks!!

12. How do you spend your time when you're not training for a fight? 
Training just in case a fight comes through last second or working. I wish I could get the time to go back home and visit my family but I can't get myself to take time off. I want to be ready at all times!

13. Were your family and friends supportive when you decided to enter the world of mma? My brother was the only family member that supports me and my dreams in the sport. My parents think its just crazy to stand in a cage and get your brains beat out. All my friends and old college team mates all support a lot and all waiting for the day I make it to the UFC so they can all purchase their tickets.

14. Whats your game plan for 2013?
My goal for this year is to continue to dominate in the sport of MMA, continue to bust my butt everyday to stand out over every body in my weight class, and to continue to grow and develop as a mixed martial artist bringing all my training and thoughts together to mold myself into the ultimate athlete. And my main goal of this year is to make it to at least the prelims of the UFC by the last card of the year.

15. If you could fight anyone outside of the MMA world who would it be?
The head person of the IOC that decided it would be a good idea to take wrestling out of the Olympics.

16. What are some of your hobbies outside of the ring?
When I'm not doing something pertaining to fighting I like to ride my motorcycle, go golfing, and studying wrestling films.

17. Whats the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
Its between Justin Beiber and Jaden Smith: Never say never or Miley Cyrus: Party in the USA.

18. Do you dig any sports other than MMA?
Wrestling and Golf. 

19. Its 10 minutes before you're walking out to the fight, whats going through your head in that moment?
Its almost go time baby! Time to turn the warm up up a notch and get ready to get it in!! Nobody in this arena works nearly as hard as you and its time to go out here and show the whole world what being a Beast is all about! 

20. Who and when are you fighting next? My next opponent and next fight is still unknown at the moment

Any final words?
Id like to give a big thanks to all my supporters and sponsors that have been here with me/ for me through the last year as I strive to climb my way up the mma ranking. Thank you Usana Health an Science for the daily vitamins, Miles Tshirt out of Springfield, Il for the printing on my fight gear, BMA Clothing for the hook up of all the top gear and clothing styles out, Lincoln college and Lincoln College Wrestling for there support and availability to the training office, swimming pool, and weight room allowing me to take my training to the next level everyday. All my team mates and coaches at the Kennel Fight for pushing me everyday and showing me the way to the top of the sport. Duke Roufus and the Spartans in Milwaukee for giving me the opportunity to fight in the first place. And last but not least my brother Curtis Anderson for no matter what always having my back and being there to support me no matter what it was I said I wanted to do.