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UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Scott Coker isn’t quite ready to have fans back to Bellator events just yet.
Contrary to the UFC, which already has tickets on sale for full-capacity crowds in two upcoming pay-per-view events, Bellator president Coker wants to see how things pan out first.
UFC 261, which is headlined by a welterweight title rematch between champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal, takes place April 24 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The arena has a capacity of 15,000. UFC 262, headlined by a vacant lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira, takes place May 15 at Toyota Center in Houston.
But Coker, who was quick to adhere to the health and safety protocols when COVID-19 shutdowns first hit in March 2020, wants to continue taking a safe approach before bringing fans back.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel now,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “We’re going to take a beat and see how things open up, not just in those two states or three states or five states that have opened up, but we’re going to wait to see how it opens up across the country. I think that because there is light at the end of the tunnel here and we see it, I want to make sure that we don’t just respond and do something that creates some super-spreader event.
“When it’s safe, we’ll go. This is a big company. There is a COVID task force that we adhere to. We’ll see what they say. We’ve already inquired about doing fights outside the ‘Sphere. They are looking into and making sure we’re heading in the right direction. Upon their guidance, we’ll decide what they do.”
After taking five months off due to the coronavirus outbreak, which included numerous canceled events, Bellator returned in July 2020 with Bellator 242 and has been holding its events at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The promotion created a “Fightsphere” there and implemented new testing protocols during fight week, which included swabs, screenings, quarantines and social distancing.
Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena and will be the promotion’s first event in 2021 – and also its first to air on Showtime in a new broadcast deal. The event also can be watched in full on MMA Junkie.
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