Bellator CEO Scott Coker was questioned about Dana White’s recent statements concerning the uncertain fate of his promotion.
For a while, Bellator has held the position as the second-largest MMA promotion globally, trailing behind the UFC.
Although they haven’t come close to matching the UFC’s status, promoter Scott Coker takes immense pride in their achievements.
This weekend marked their 300th event, featuring fighters like Usman Nurmagomedov and Cris Cyborg, symbolizing the significant progress they’ve made.
White and Coker, who used to work together at Zuffa LLC, are now competitors in the promotion business. With Bellator almost being sold to the PFL, White has raised questions about why the PFL would want Bellator and acknowledged Bellator’s significance in the sport. Even as Bellator faces the possibility of being sold, Coker firmly believes that it still ranks among the top products in MMA.
Bellator’s Scott Coker Stays Firm as MMA’s Second Best
Amid rumors of Bellator being up for sale, Coker responded to Dana White’s recent comments regarding Bellator’s position in the MMA world.
“We have a great company, and when you’re talking about clear No. 2 in the space, no one has the fighters we have other than the UFC,” Coker replied. “So when I think about negative comments coming from other promoters, I’m not really impacted by that… I really try to focus on business at hand and what’s important to the growth of this company and the growth of our employees. I’m focused on what we’re doing and not any outside disservice.”
Coker took over as Bellator President in 2014 and has been instrumental in building the promotion from scratch, bringing in notable fighters like Cris Cyborg.
The hierarchy in MMA promotion is a topic of debate. The PFL, rumored to be interested in acquiring Bellator, has gained momentum with signings like Francis Ngannou and Anthony Pettis.
Despite the possibility of Bellator’s sale, Coker is proud of what he’s achieved with the promotion and is satisfied with the roster he’s assembled.
Check out full interview below:
