Corey Willis: Overcoming Brokenness
- Zach Anderson
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
Interviewed by Chaplain Zach Anderson | The Fight Life Ministries
Corey, born in Billings, Montana, was raised by a single mother in Laurel. He briefly left for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he opened his first gym. He has since returned to Billings in late 2017. He’s been married to his beautiful wife, Kayla Willis, for 13 years. They have five amazing children: four girls and a bookend boy.
At 39, he’s the founder and owner of Knockout Lifestyle Fitness and Coaching and Knockout Fitness in Billings. His primary passion is boxing, although he’s never boxed professionally. Instead, he’s a Bare Knuckle fighter for the BKFC with a 2-1 record. His only loss came from challenging the number one ranked contender in the world. His first professional competition was back in December 2006.
Corey has fought five times professionally in MMA, weighing in at heavyweight. His record is 2-3. And if he fights in MMA again, he plans to drop to the 205-pound weight class.
He is a hard worker, loves the Lord, and influences everyone he comes into contact with to be the best they can be. Corey’s story is relatable and full of God’s love. His story is one of hope in the midst of the fight. No matter the opponent, no matter the round, God is always present and ready to listen, eager to lead us in His fulfilling will.
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In and out of the Cage
Q: Share about your journey into combat sports. What was your motivation to compete? Was there anyone specifically that helped encourage you and guide you to get started?
Corey:
I originally got into fighting because my friend, Tyler, wanted to see me beat someone up for $125 at a Thursday fight night in Billings, MT. He even came up with my fighter nickname that is now making headlines: Corey “WhatChuTalkinBout” Willis. I won that fight in a split decision, even though I knocked him down 5 times to his 0 knockdowns. I also decided to fight again just 2 weeks later.
I took on a tougher opponent in that next fight. My cornerman, whose name I don’t even know, told me to win with my jab. So, I used my jab and won that fight unanimously. That’s when Terrill Bracken came into the picture. Terrill knew I had a wrestling background and asked me to come to his gym. That’s where it all began. I was actually a teammate to my current head coach and owner of the Grindhouse, Will Grundhauser.
Q: Training and competing can be a brutal grind and sacrificial commitment. How do you stay motivated and disciplined through camps and setbacks like injuries? What do you do to stay consistent on and off the mats?
Corey:
First off, I own a gym, so that helps me stay in the grind—whether I want to or not! People depend on me to show up. If I’m showing up for them, I might as well show up for myself.
This was a mindset shift for me that started about six years ago when I was struggling with alcohol addiction. Discipline and surrendering to Jesus, and putting my faith in Him, really sparked my transformation and gave me the understanding on how to deal with adversity and struggles, both in and out of the ring.
The support I have around me has been phenomenal as of late. My wife, Kayla, takes care of our kids when I’m in fight camp, which gives me the space I need to focus. My coaches, Will and Drew, help me put together a game plan for each and every opponent. I also have several amazing sponsors, with a huge component being the two medical professionals I have behind me: Melissa Fuller at Vitality Medical, and Blaire Dibra with Consierge Health and Wellness. They’re always helping me with staying on top of injuries and those sore muscles!
Q: It can be tough balancing all the commitments of life as a husband, father, business owner, and still give ourselves fully to the training necessary to compete at the highest levels. Share about the challenges you face in all your commitments. How do you manage to do it?
Corey:
The struggle is real—most days I run on four hours of sleep! With the help of my mom, Nancy, and a couple of great trainers that we have at Knockout Lifestyle, we’ve been able to balance my work schedule during fight camps. I have to say, the biggest thing overall is making sure I personally stay disciplined.
Reading my Bible every day always brings me back to the reason I’m here. Something I always tell myself is that: anything is possible when you put your mind to it. This is possible one step at a time through the face of Christ, and with lots of naps throughout the week!
"Anything is possible when you put your mind to it."
I’ve built a fantastic program to help keep my cardio and strength up, so at 39 years old, I’m in the best shape of my life. As long as I stick to my training and work with my coaches at the Grindhouse, and my wife Kayla handling the kids, I stay balanced enough to keep grinding.
Finding hope when there is none
Q: When did you first encounter Jesus in a way that changed everything for you? What has your faith journey looked like over the years?
Corey:
July 5, 2019. I was on a one-month blackout bender. My wife and two girls left at the time, and I didn’t know if they were ever coming back. I couldn’t stop drinking for the life of me. My mom came and took my wallet and car keys and basically anchored herself at my house. This forced me to sober up. Dealing with horrible withdrawals and hangover symptoms, I knew I was broken and at rock bottom.
"I knew I was broken and at rock bottom."
I had nowhere else to turn. I got down on my knees and I prayed to a God I didn’t fully understand. I asked Him to take this pain and addiction away from me, and it was at that moment my symptoms completely went away.
I went downstairs to clean up, and my two daughters came in the door. I could see a gold ring around them in the shape of an arch. They started giggling and ran towards me, and I heard a voice say, “This is the first time you’re hearing your girls giggle.”
They were five and three at the time. That was my first sign that God was listening. I went all-in with trusting and let Him lead the way in my life.
Q: How has your faith in Jesus shaped your perspective as a competitor in combat sports? In what ways has your faith influenced your training and career as a competitor?
Corey:
My faith has given me more confidence and courage because I know God’s with me. I know I don’t need to try to be in control of everything—let go and let God lead me. I’m not perfect, of course. I still get frustrated and have my doubts. I still have my “what if” moments, but when I focus my mind on Christ and remember that He’s the One in control and I’m just on the path He wants me to be on, it brings me back to: anything is possible.
Q: Do you have a Bible verse or prayer that you have memorized that helps get you through the ups and downs of life, as well as the unknown nature of the fight business?
Corey:
I have three passages that are my favorites:
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NLT
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
James 1:2-8 NLT
“Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!”
1 Samuel 17:46 NLT
Defined by something more
Q: Many competitors chase identity in their image, records, and highlight reels. How has knowing Jesus redefined success for you?
Corey:
When I was a young athlete, I had a lot of belief in myself. I knew I was the best, however, when I was in 7th grade, a coach told me that I was meant to be a lineman. I really wanted to be the quarterback. That impacted me more than you might think and made me feel defeated. It was at that moment I lost some of that competitive edge.
From that moment on, I started losing and not caring as much, which led me down the wrong path. Thankfully, Coach Laslovich, my wrestling coach in high school, believed in me with real sincerity and brought me back to the top of the podium.
During my college years, alcohol took its course, and I became lost again. But after surrendering to Jesus in 2019, that youthful and determined, disciplined Corey was back and better than ever. I now know I can compete with the best in the world and still have time to prove it all thanks to Jesus.
"I can compete with the best... all thanks to Jesus"
Q: What's one way Jesus has used your story to impact other fighters or people in the gym?
Corey:
I think a lot of people can relate to the struggle I’ve had with addiction. We all struggle with something, and being vulnerable can really bring people together: alcohol, drugs, food, and even sugar addiction. I know I’ve changed hundreds of lives with my story. The program of Knockout Lifestyle was built around my comeback story. This has led to lives being transformed.
This is a huge win in my life, and I keep grinding forward. I’m sure people will read this and can give their testimonies below. My goal is to continue to help people who struggle, be a good listener, coach, and help people find peace. I want to help people realize that God is, in fact, always listening.
Q: What advice would you give to a fighter who’s wrestling with their faith? How could they take steps towards putting their faith in Jesus, the One that has been in our corner all along?
Corey:
Take it lightly, one step at a time. We’re all here with a purpose, and I really believe God wants us to better our communities. Going out of our way to help others is a great way to see God at work.
Also, understand you don’t need to be in control of every aspect of your life. It’s a hard concept to understand. If you’re truly ready to surrender to God, He's ready to help! You have to start with your daily disciplines like Scripture reading. And I think one of the biggest things we can do is give thanks to God for everything we have. I know I do for how He changed my life!
Bonus Questions
Q: What is your go-to cheat meal?
Corey:
It would be a meat lovers stuffed crust pizza, or some really good Mexican food!
Q: What is your walk-out song right now?
Corey:
Let’s Go by Key Glock
Q: Who’s a fighter you’d love to spar with?
Corey:
Tyson Fury. He’s a giant human, and I think he has a great personality. Also, Connor McGregor. He’s just a little guy, and I could take his punches. I would love to pick apart his brain a bit too and learn from him. I think he’d be fun to hang out with, he’s also my boss right now. The last one would be Alex Pereira because he’s the best fighter in the world right now, in my opinion.
We’re so grateful to Corey for taking the time to share a special look into his life and story. He wanted to shout out Terrill Bracken once more for getting his MMA and BKFC career started, and for always believing in him. Also, a huge thank you to his coaches: Will and Drew at the Grindhouse. And a special shoutout to his top sponsors: Vitality Medical, Seed of Life Labs, Concierge Health and Wellness, Marble Coffee, Archie’s Plumbing, The A Team Roofing and Solar, and Wagner Roofing and Solar.
Connect with Corey
Fighters like Corey are always looking for individuals and businesses to be in their corner. If you’d like to help cover some of Corey’s expenses as a professional fighter and see the advertising opportunities he can provide for you, we highly encourage you to get in contact with him. We’ve listed ways in which you can connect with him below.
Emails:
Website:
Socials:
Instagram: Corey_whatutalkinbout_willis
Our hope is that you, the fight community, have been given insight through Corey’s words—to put your own trust in Jesus. As The Fight Life, we are here for you and in your corner for every step of your faith journey.
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