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Scott Coker opens door to Bellator-UFC cross promotion
Under the leadership of Scott Coker, Bellator MMA has co-promoted with a number of other promotions, most notably Japan’s RIZIN Fighting Federation, but also with England’s BAMMA and Italy’s Oktagon. In fact, RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi will take to the Bellator cage to battle Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 222 on Friday […]
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Scott Coker responds to Cris Cyborg’s free agency plans
Former UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg recently stated that she plans to test her value as a free agent once her current UFC contract expires. That contract will conclude after her featherweight showdown with Felicia Spencer a UFC 240 in Edmonton in July. If Cyborg does indeed become a free agent, it sounds like she […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Scott Coker explains why he took a chance on Leslie Smith
She’s back. After 21 months out of action, ‘The Peacemaker’ Leslie Smith will be returning to action as she has signed with Bellator MMA. A veteran of the sport, especially in the bantamweight division, Smith started to really find her stride in 2016-2017 and still currently rides a three-fight winning streak at 135-pounds. However, Bellator […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Scott Coker provides update on Fedor Emelianenko, likes the idea of a ‘victory tour’ and Josh Barnett fight
Without a doubt, Russia’s ‘Last Emperor,’ Fedor Emelianenko is one of the greatest mixed martial artists to ever grace the face of the Earth. But despite his incredible success throughout his career and late resurgence through the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix, it all ended abruptly in January. At Bellator 214, the vacant title was on […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Scott Coker says Kyoji Horiguchi vs Darrion Caldwell 2 not done deal, but working on it
At RIZIN 14 on New Year’s Eve 2018, we saw a massive inaugural title fight that saw two promotions best bantamweight fighters go head to head. Of course, on one side of the ring, there was the Japanese superstar, RIZIN’s Kyoji Horiguchi. On the other side, it was Bellator bantamweight champion, Darrion ‘The Wolf’ Caldwell […]
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Scott Coker teases another Bellator Grand Prix
Over the last year, Bellator MMA has had Grand Prix fever, promoting action-packed tournaments in its heavyweight and welterweight divisions. According to Bellator president Scott Coker, this exciting trend is likely to continue. In fact, he says Bellator is likely to start hosting one Grand Prix a year. “The tournament format, everybody understands,” Coker told […]
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Scott Coker has more cross-promotional fights planned beyond RIZIN 15
The partnership between RIZIN and Bellator continues to be a fruitful one as RIZIN 15 will provide us with yet another cross-promotional title bout. The two promotions have already had fighters fight between each other in the past, but it wasn’t until RIZIN 14 when things got very interesting. For RIZIN’s inaugural bantamweight title bout, […]
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Scott Coker says Ryan Bader will get some ‘leeway’ as two-division champion
Ryan Bader now owns the Bellator light heavyweight heavyweight titles. He earned the former with a defeat of Phil Davis last year, and the latter with a Saturday night, Bellator 214 knockout of Fedor Emelianenko. With two belts now wrapped round his waist, Ryan Bader has the option of ruling over two divisions if he […]
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Bellator boss Scott Coker scolds CSAC for handling of Jon Jones situation, CSAC responds
Ahead of UFC 232, several Jon Jones drug tests detected trace amounts of the banned substance turinabol, which prompted the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to deny the light heavyweight legend a license. This forced the UFC to move the entire UFC 232 card to Los Angeles, California, as the more lenient California State Athletic […]
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Bellator boss Scott Coker shares his thoughts on the new UFC title belts
Add Bellator boss Scott Coker to the growing list of individuals who are not impressed by the new UFC title belts. The Ultimate Fighting Champion unveiled their new “Legacy Belts” yesterday afternoon in Brooklyn, which spawned a ton of reactions on social media. While some fighters appeared to be ok with the new belt design, […]
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Bellator boss Scott Coker comments on cancelled UFC 233 card
Until very recently, Bellator and the UFC were engaged in something of a turf war, as both promotions were set to touch down in Southern California on January 26. Bellator boss Scott Coker booked The Forum in Inglewood for Bellator 214, while Dana White and the UFC were expected to take over the Honda Center […]
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Scott Coker explains why Paul Daley vs Michael Page fight isn’t happening in England
On February 16, at Bellator 216, Bellator will promote one of the biggest fights in UK MMA history, as British knockout artists Paul Daley and Michael Page finally collide in a long-awaited grudge match. Unfortunately, this massive fight will not occur in the UK. Instead, it will go down at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. […]
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Scott Coker details current Bellator and RIZIN collaboration, expects more cross-promotional battles in the future
Capping off 2018’s MMA calendar will be RIZIN 14 on New Year’s Eve. With the full lineup now revealed, there is plenty to look forward to. Among the announced bouts, for most, the most anticipated will be the fantasy bout that will be fought over the inaugural RIZIN bantamweight title. That fight will feature none other than […]
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Ben Askren and Scott Coker exchange shots online over failed Bellator negotiations
Undefeated welterweight fighter Ben Askren (18-0 MMA) was apparently in talks with Bellator’s Scott Coker just weeks before he was traded to the UFC by ONE Championship. According to the Bellator President, Coker, there were talks between his organization and ONE Championship to do some co-promotion which would have allowed Ben Askren to compete at […]
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Bellator President Scott Coker reacts to talk of UFC, ONE Championship trading fighters
Earlier today, news broke that the UFC and Singapore-based MMA promotion ONE Championship were closing in on a historic trade that would send former UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson to Asia, and former ONE and Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren to the UFC’s Octagon. If this trade works out, it will be a massive moment […]
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Scott Coker responds to ‘rubbish’ fight-fixing questions after Bellator 208 main event
Chael Sonnen vs. Fedor Emelianenko, which headlined Bellator 208 on Saturday, was a fight that many fans were looking forward to, and it lived up to most expectations. Though it was not a long fight, it was a fun one until Emelianenko finished Sonnen off with a storm of first-round ground strikes. Unfortunately, this fun fight […]
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Scott Coker likes the idea of Kyoji Horiguchi vs Darrion Caldwell, ‘Let’s get it on!’
It’s definitely safe to say to that 2018 has been the year of the champion vs champion fights and as it continues to unwind, we aren’t done getting them. I mean, let’s just look at things a bit closer here. The term “super fight” has absolutely been thrown around far too loosely this year as just […]
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Scott Coker explains why UK MMA fans were forced to watch ‘Peppa Pig’ instead of Bellator 206 headliner
Last night, Bellator MMA promoted arguably its biggest card yet in Bellator 206. Given the scale of this card, Bellator MMA arranged to have the fights broadcast live on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom in the wee hours of them morning — rather than just airing it on tape delay long after it ended. […]
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Scott Coker doubtful free agent Eddie Alvarez returns to Bellator
Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is currently a free agent. Given his station in the MMA world, it was expected that Alvarez would be courted by many of the sport’s top promotions, including Bellator MMA, where he once wore lightweight gold. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like Eddie Alvarez will be returning to the Bellator […]
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Scott Coker on Eddie Alvarez possibly returning to Bellator, ‘we would love to talk to him’
When one chapter closes another begins. And it may be that time again for one of the lightweight division’s all-time greats. ‘The Underground King’ Eddie Alvarez just recently fought out of his contract in the second of two wars with Dustin Poirier. In this rematch that headlined UFC on Fox 30 in Calgary, Alvarez came […]
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Scott Coker considering Lyoto Machida vs. Fedor Emelianenko, Mousasi-MacDonald winner
We already know that former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida’s Bellator career will unfurl in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. Apparently, however, Machida’s multi-divisional ambition might carry him all the way to the Bellator heavyweight division, where he could even battle MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko. According to Bellator boss Scott Coker, this […]
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Scott Coker shuts down Gegard Mousasi vs. Rory MacDonald fight talk — for now
Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and new Bellator middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi want to fight each other. That could not be any clearer. “Obviously, me and Gegard want it and I think the fans want it,” MacDonald said on The MMA Hour this week. “I think it would be the biggest fight that Bellator, that […]
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Scott Coker promises Bellator roster will ‘really blossom’ in the next year
The Bellator roster has been getting better and better over the last few years, as the promotion has signed a host of high profile stars, such as Rory MacDonald, Gegard Mousasi, Fedor Emelianenko, Chael Sonnen, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Wanderlei Silva, Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, Matt Mitrione, Benson Henderson and Roy Nelson. While these are […]
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Bellator President Scott Coker interested in “sharing fighters” with ONE Championship in the future
Over the last few weeks, there’s been significant buzz about a potential fight between Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald, and former Bellator and ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren. While this fight is one that most fans want to see, the key roadblock is that, even in his retirement, Askren remains under contract with ONE Championship. […]
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Scott Coker isn’t interested in signing Ben Askren for one fight
Over the last few weeks, undefeated former Bellator and ONE welterweight titleholder Ben Askren has expressed interest in ending his retirement for a fight with Rory MacDonald in Bellator, or Georges St-Pierre in the UFC. Chatri Sityodtong, the Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship (where Askren is still technically under contract) seemed willing to work […]
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Paul Daley fires back at Bellator boss Scott Coker: he’s bitter
Paul Daley vs. Michael “Venom” Page is just one of those fights. The fans want it, Bellator MMA wants it, and both fighters claim to want it, yet the relevant parties just can’t seem to come to an agreement to make it happen. When it comes to this fight’s failure to come to fruition, we’ve […]
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Scott Coker responds to backlash about Cro Cop fighting in Bellator while still under USADA suspension
On May 25, at Bellator 200, heavyweight MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic will make his debut in the Bellator cage opposite Roy Nelson. Interestingly, however, Cro Cop should still technically be banned by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after failing a drug test in his latest UFC run. Cro Cop’s USADA two-year suspension was […]
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Scott Coker confirms two Heavyweight Grand Prix alternates, says two more are coming
Last weekend, Bellator MMA’s anticipated Heavyweight Grand Prix officially got underway, as Chael Sonnen advanced to the second-round with a unanimous decision win over former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. While the tournament is now rolling, however, the official alternates – understudies should any fighters get injured – have been a mystery. Speaking […]