Tag: Scott Coker

Ex-Bellator, Strikeforce boss Scott Coker hopes to build stars again with new event series

The Bellator Era of Scott Coker’s career is in the rearview mirror, but the MMA pioneer is looking back on his run there with pride.

The Bellator Era of [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag]’s career officially is in the rearview mirror, but the MMA pioneer is looking back on his run there with pride.

Coker took the reins at Bellator in 2014 just after his Strikeforce deal ended. That deal was in place after he sold the promotion he founded and it was folded into the UFC. In late 2023, Bellator was bought by the PFL, and Coker did not make the transition to the new company.

“The opportunity was there,” Coker recently told MMA Junkie Radio, but he chose to get back to his entrepreneurial roots and will run a new event series called Fight Night at the Tech, which premieres May 18 in San Jose, Calif. Coker will be an executive producer and will work alongside former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

He said developing young fighters is something he was most proud of from his time in Bellator, and likes the idea of doing that again.

“When I first got there, the roster was, they had (Patricio) ‘Pitbull’ (Freire) – he was a great fighter; his brother (Patricky) … they had a couple, maybe three or four people that I’d say were at that level. But I remember sitting down with Bob Cook. … I showed him the roster when I came over and I said, ‘What do you think?’ And he says to me, ‘Oh man, Coker, you’ve got a lot of work to do.’

“Right. So I said, OK, that’s fair. So we’ll go sign Aaron Pico. We’ll go discover A.J. McKee. … I said, ‘Man, this guy – he’s something. I think he’s special, and I think that we should work together.’ So I made a deal with his dad, and then we picked out certain fighters that we’re going to invest in and grow.”

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Patricio Freire was a two-division champion for Bellator at featherweight and lightweight and remains its 145-pound champion. He puts his title on the line Friday at Bellator Champions Series: Belfast, the first in the new iteration of Bellator events under PFL ownership. Patricky Freire was a lightweight champion. McKee held the featherweight title, as well.

Coker drew comparisons to the fighters who became homegrown stars under his watch at Strikeforce – all of whom went on to title-winning and Hall of Fame-worthy careers in the UFC.

“Look what’s happening now. Now they’re all becoming stars of their own right,” he said. “To me, that’s something I’m really proud of. We did it in Strikeforce with Daniel (Cormier) and Ronda (Rousey), (Tyron Woodley), Luke Rockhold, Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes started with us. (Rafael) ‘Feijao’ (Cavalcante) started with us. I mean, it’s like the who’s-who of MMA.”

Scott Coker ecstatic over Michael Page’s UFC debut win: ‘This guy is so talented’

Former Bellator president Scott Coker reacts to Michael Page’s UFC debut win.

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag] is the latest Bellator fighter to transition to the UFC, and naturally, former Bellator president [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] is rooting for him.

Coker, who promoted Page for many years, was happy to see Page get his hand raised in his UFC debut. MVP defeated veteran Kevin Holland by unanimous decision on the main card of last Saturday’s UFC 299 in Miami. It was a solid debut win that had him show out for the UFC audience – which Coker was happy to see.

“I was so happy,” Coker told MMA Junkie Radio. “I texted him, I said, ‘Go show that boy what it’s all about because he’s out here talking all that mess.’ At the end of the day, it’s not about what letters you fight for, what alphabet you fight for. At the end of the day, you’re either a great fighter or you’re not, and MVP is a great fighter.

“He’s one of my most favorite athletes as a fighter because he can do things that you just can’t do. How many people can do what he does? To knock out the people he’s knocked out and the way he’s done it. Sure, he’s had some losses along the way but everyone loses in this sport. Everyone except Khabib (Nurmagomedov) – but if you’re Khabib, you’re at another level. This guy is so talented. I’m happy he got a win. He’s now able to show his skills to a different audience, but I saw this guy 10 years ago and was blown away by things he was doing 10 years ago, so I’m happy for him.

Page is one of many Bellator fighters who’ve transitioned to the UFC and found success. Coker, who prides himself on the promotions he’s built in MMA, has kept track of his guys’ success, and with Page, it was no different.

“I got my clicker out like baseball,” Coker said. “When we sold Strikeforce to the UFC, before they bought it, it was like Dana was out there saying, ‘Oh, these guys stink. Strikeforce has the worst fighters in the world,’ and I’m sitting back with the clicker going, ‘Ok, we’re 7-1, now we’re 8-1, 9-2, like the baseball umpires. I was like, ‘Ok, these fighters all suck, but now they’re kicking your guys’ booties over there.’

“To me, it’s about the fighters. We’ve developed some of the best fighters in the world. I did it in Strikeforce and I did it in Bellator, and we’ll do it again wherever we go.”

Coker parted ways with the Bellator brand in November after its parent company Viacom sold it to the PFL, ending his 10-year run with the promotion. It was recently announced that Coker would be working as an executive producer and helping former fighter Gilbert Melendez start and run combat sports promotion, Fight Night at the Tech. It’s unknown if Coker will dive further back into MMA promotion.

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Why Scott Coker passed on PFL after Bellator sale: ‘I’m an entrepreneur at heart’

Longtime Bellator boss Scott Coker revealed the reason he didn’t go to the PFL after its purchase of his former promotion from Viacom.

[autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] and combat sports are as comfortable together as an old pair of shoes. The idea of the MMA world without Coker seems almost unnatural.

So when he wasn’t part of the crew from Bellator that made the move to the PFL after the sale this past fall, a few eyebrows were raised. Some people wondered either why the Bellator boss didn’t go to the PFL, or at the very least what was up his sleeve next.

We now know Coker will stay in the MMA game with a new event called Fight Night at the Tech, which premieres May 18 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif. Coker will be an executive producer and will work alongside former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

And that venture and the idea of being his own boss again seem to be big factors in his decision to not move over to the PFL.

“I’ll tell you honestly: I thought about it,” Coker told MMA Junkie Radio. “The opportunity was there. But how I felt was, it’s time to go. It’s time for me, for myself, to be an entrepreneur. I love that the most. I worked for Viacom and Paramount for nine years (as Bellator president). It was a great experience. I’m glad I did it. Paramount was very good to me. I learned a lot over there. But I’m an entrepreneur at heart. It’s really the first job (working for someone other than myself) I took as an adult.”

Many of Bellator’s fighters now are in the PFL, as are some of its executives and behind-the-scenes personnel. Others went different directions, some of their own choosing, and some because they weren’t asked to stay on with the PFL.

Coker was the Bellator frontman from June 2014 until November 2023, when the PFL’s acquisition was finalized. Prior to his long run with Bellator, Coker was the CEO of Strikeforce, a promotion the UFC acquired from him in 2011.

Coker said despite his close ties to the success Bellator built, he knew well in advance the direction he mostly likely would take if Bellator ever was sold.

“I worked hard. I think we built some great value in that company,” Coker said. “When Strikeforce built, it had value. Somebody wanted to come buy it. When Bellator built, it had value. Somebody wanted to come buy it. This is something that is natural in business. But I always felt like if they sold the company one day, I always told myself I would go back and be an entrepreneur – and that’s really what I wanted to do.”

Scott Coker praises Michael Page, congratulates him on UFC signing: ‘I’ll always be a fan’

Scott Coker was all class when reacting to Michael Page’s signing with the UFC.

Scott Coker was all class when reacting to [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]’s signing with the UFC.

The longtime Bellator president worked with Page for nine years before MVP decided to test free agency. Page’s decision came in the midst of rumors that PFL would purchase Bellator, which eventually came to fruition in November.

While nothing has been revealed officially, all signs point to Coker no longer being involved in Bellator following the PFL’s acquisition, but he heaped praised on one of biggest stars he’s ever produced.

“I’ve always viewed (Michael Page) as one of the most versatile, talented, and effective martial artists I’ve ever promoted,” Coker wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ll always be a fan. Congratulations on your new deal with (UFC). I’ll be watching your fight in Miami.”

Page (21-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) challenged for the Bellator welterweight title twice and broke numerous promotional records such as most wins in the division’s history. The flashy striker already has his first octagon appearance booked as he’ll make his debut against Kevin Holland on March at UFC 299 from Kaseya Center in Miami.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Video: What does the future hold for Bellator MMA?

Could one of the biggest MMA promotions on the globe be in its final days? Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses.

Immediately after celebrating a big milestone event, questions about Bellator MMA’s future were posed to its president [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag].

Bellator 300 was a big show for the California-based promotion that featured three title fights. The promotion aimed for four at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, but one apart in the days before the event. Regardless, champions [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag], [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag], and [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] entered and exited with their respective titles, but what comes next for them and everyone else on the Bellator roster is uncertain.

At the post-event news conference, Coker was asked to speak about the rumors of an upcoming sale or merger of the promotion. There have even been talks that all operations may cease. Coker wouldn’t comment much about the situation, considering everything that will happen going forward with the promotion lies in the hands of its parent company Viacom.

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Based on what answers Coker did or did not provide about Bellator’s future at the news conference, what can we expect going forward? Will there be other events after Bellator 301? Is that event guaranteed to take place? Is Viacom going to shut it all down?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” of Farah Hannoun, Mike Bohn, and Brian “Goze” Garcia discuss along with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full “Spinning Back Clique” episode below on YouTube or in podcast form.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 300.

Scott Coker: ‘I don’t see how anybody can say Cris Cyborg is not the GOAT’ after Bellator 300

Scott Coker insists that Cris Cyborg is the greatest female fighter of all time.

SAN DIEGO – [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] insists that [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] is the greatest female fighter of all time.

Featherweight champion Cyborg (27-2 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) notched her fifth title defense this past Saturday at Bellator 300 when she scored a first-round TKO of Cat Zingano (14-5 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) in San Diego.

Coker has long argued that Cyborg is the greatest female fighter of all time, and thinks she strengthened her case even more after a quick finish of former UFC title challenger Zingano.

“I don’t see how anybody can say that Cris Cyborg is not the GOAT in the female division,” Coker said at the post-fight news conference. “She is a beast, she is amazing, and she took care of business. To me, that was an amazing fight.”

Leah McCourt (8-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) picked up a big finish over Sara McMann (14-7 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) on the prelims to earn a title shot. She faced off with Cyborg in the cage, but Coker warns her that it won’t be an easy fight.

“I think the Leah McCourt fight was something that I was really amazed at how much she dominated Sara,” Coker said. “It’s something I felt like, ‘Wow, she’s ready to step up to the next level.’

“She wants to fight Cyborg in the future. We’d love to see it, but she’s going to have her hands full. I mean, that’s a tough test. I’d say congratulations on your win, now go get in the gym and get back to work because it’s not going to be any easy task to face Cris at any time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 300.

5 biggest takeaways from UFC Fight Night 229/Bellator 300: Future demise? Green’s upset? Which storyline stole the night?

Thoughts and analysis of the biggest storylines from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 229 and Bellator 300 double header.

What mattered most at Saturday’s doubleheader of UFC Fight Night 229 in Las Vegas and Bellator 300 in San Diego? Here are a few post-fight musings …

Scott Coker still bullish on Danny Sabatello’s Bellator future despite submission loss in Japan

Bellator president Scott Coker still sees plenty of potential in bantamweight Danny Sabatello, who lost for the second time in three fights.

[autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] still sees plenty of potential in [autotag]Danny Sabatello[/autotag].

Sabatello (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) was submitted by Magomed Magomedov (20-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) in this first round this past Saturday at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, near Tokyo.

The brash 30-year-old American Top Team fighter has now lost two of his past three, but Coker doesn’t think his stock dropped too much.

“He’s a young kid with tremendous talent,” Coker said at the Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 post-fight press conference. “We have a lot of high hopes for his future fighting in Bellator. He had a very tough opponent with Magomed Magomedov, but the loss doesn’t make me feel like he’s going to be any less of a fighter. He’s a young kid. We’re going to continue to help build his career, and hopefully he’ll come back very shortly.”

Sabatello released a statement on social media after the loss, and vows to reach his title goal eventually.

“What a brutal game. It’s what makes it so beautiful. One blink of the eye and it’s death. Sharp for every second or enjoy regret. My run to the belt is about to be special.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator x Rizin 2.

Scott Coker discusses Gegard Mousasi’s future after Bellator 296, Cris Cyborg re-signing, Kayla Harrison, more

Check out Scott Coker’s comments on the results of Bellator 296 and other various topics.

[autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] spoke to the media present at Accor Arena in Paris following the completion of Bellator 296 on Friday.

The Bellator president spoke about[autotag] Gegard Mousasi[/autotag]’s loss to Fabian Edwards in the main event of the card, the wild war between [autotag]Mansour Barnaoui[/autotag] and [autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag], and other results from the card.

Coker also discussed the re-signing of their women’s featherweight champion [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] and the company’s interest in two-time PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag].

Below, you can check out Coker’s thoughts on the carious topics following Bellator’s event in France.

Scott Coker eyes Liz Carmouche vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane title fight for late 2023: ‘We have to do that fight’

Bellator president Scott Coker says Liz Carmouche vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is next.

HONOLULU – We’re just hours away from [autotag]Liz Carmouche[/autotag]’s latest title defense, and it looks like there’s already another one on the horizon.

Bellator president [autotag]Scott Coker[/autotag] says former champion [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] is next in line following the pair of events this weekend in Hawaii; Bellator 294 on Friday and Bellator 295 on Saturday.

Carmouche (19-7 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) successfully defended her women’s flyweight belt against DeAnna Bennett, submitting her with an arm triangle in the fourth round of their Bellator 294 main event. In the co-main event of Bellator 295, Macfarlane (13-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) edged Japan’s Kana Watanabe in a split decision.

Coker says the next step is a championship bout between the two teammates.

“The first step for her is to fight Liz Carmouche,” Coker told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the Bellator 295 post-fight news conference. “That’s the top priority. By winning this fight against Watanabe, who’s extremely competitive and skilled, a lot of folks thought it could go either way. It was a tight fight, but given the decision, it puts her on the sights of Liz, and we have to do that fight.

“Do we do it here? I don’t know because the Blaisdell is being closed for remodeling. We’ll talk to Stan Sheriff (Center) and see what’s available, but that fight we can put anywhere. That’s a bigtime fight and those two girls have had great runs in their Mixed Martial Arts career, and we would love to promote that fight at the end of the year.”

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Macfarlane, a Hawaii native, is always looking to fight on her home island, if possible. But due to the circumstances relating to the availability of the arena, that may not be in the cards. Coker believes that shouldn’t be an issue and the two parties will work things out.

“We’re a fight company that needs to continue to put fights, so if we can’t get into Stan Sheriff, and we can’t come here, what are you going to do? Wait another two years while it remodels?,” Coker said. “It’s something that we’ll have dialogue. We have a good relationship with these athletes, and we’ll have a conversation and do our best to accommodate her.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 295.

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