Coker comments for 1st time on Chandler exit

Underground
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Scott Coker and Rich Chou have an extraordinary record for developing talent outside of the UFC. With the acquisition of Strikeforce, the UFC got Daniel Cormier, Ronda Rousey, Alistair Overeem, Jacare Souza, and Cris Cyborg, among many other stars. The pair moved on the Bellator MMA, as CEO and matchmaker, and lately, the talent has been going from the UFC out, but there are major exceptions, most notably Michael Chandler.

The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion tested free agency, and signed with the UFC, after Bellator declined to match the UFC's offer. In a recent interview with Nolan King for MMA Junkie, Coker commented for the first time on Chandler's departure, and wished "iron" God speed.

“Michael has been the face of Bellator for the past 10 years, or his whole career, pretty much,” said the Bellator boss. “He’s had some of the most amazing battles in the history of Bellator.”

“Michael and I talked about this. We said one day he’ll come back, and we’ll hang your poster up on the rafters, and maybe you’ll be the first person inducted into the Bellator Hall of Fame. It’s basically like I’m a GM. Me and my team are like a GM staff of a football team. It’s like, ‘Look, do we want to keep this guy? Or do we want to sign these guys?’ There’s only so many TV slots, so we’re going to have to make some tough decisions. Letting Michael go was one of the tough ones, but I think the company is headed in a great direction.”

“I personally really think he’s an amazing human being and a great family man. He’s got great values and is a real martial artist. He exemplifies everything I love seeing in an athlete and saw when he represented our brand. … It was, ‘OK, we’re going to rebuild this 155-pound division. He has some great opportunities. Let’s let him go.’ At the end of the day, we could have matched it, to be honest. But I just felt like his destiny lies elsewhere.

“He’s a guy I’m always going to support. I’m going to watch all of his fights. And what does it say about the quality of fighters in Bellator when a guy like Michael Chandler leaves and gets put right into the immediate title shot conversation? Right? It shows you how great these fighters are over here.”

Chandler is the backup for UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov's defense vs. interim champ Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on October 24, at the Flash Forum on Fight Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[

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very comments, props to Coker

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that was supposed to say very c l a s s y comments.

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He’s right about the quality of some homegrown fighters but his org is unfortunately on the losing end of that one.

They build some great fighters, who then move on to the UFC and become contenders. All great. But it just adds to the minor league image when your best guys leave for the UFC while you keep signing UFC cast-offs.

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This is the difference between Coker and Egg. 

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I don't pay attention closely enough to know for sure, but I think maybe they'd run out of matches for him in Bellator. He's fought Henderson twice, Primus twice, Rickels twice, Brooks twice, Patricky Pitbull twice... there's only so many rematches you can do before it gets pretty stale.

Coker is taking the high road, but I doubt they saw much reason to match a UFC offer (even if they could afford to do so). The only thing they could offer him was money, because high level challenges for him at 155 are in short supply in Bellator.

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There is a reason why fighters like fighting for Coker.

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Wow.

What a respectful contrast to BLAF's media comments when fighters leave to join other promotions.

I'm not the greatest fan of Bellator's production and their roster is still growing but I hope, with leadership like this, that they stick around.

They might never be top dog but they'll be the ones helping grow the talent to join the UFC and then welcoming them back once they've reached the twilight of their career / when they've been screwed over one too many times. I think that's a solid business model.

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Change the Bellator name and more fighters would stay, imho

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Fucking hate that name

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anunaki -

Fucking hate that name

What the hell does it even mean? Is it some gladiator shit?

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Steven McTowelie - 
anunaki -

Fucking hate that name

What the hell does it even mean? Is it some gladiator shit?

Bellator means "warrior" in Latin.

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You’re all nuts. 

Michael Chandler - like all Bellator fighters with average or above intelligence - would rather fight in the UFC, given the choice. He had a choice. He chose. 

Coker’s “ is a whole lot of spin. If he were to deliver the straightforward truth it’d sound like “Michael knows the UFC is a superior organization and when he had the chance to go it was a no fucking brainer. Michael spent HIS ENTIRE Bellator career thinking about fighting IN THE UFC.”

Not as “ but the truth. 

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“Chandler and me were never friends....”

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Malvert the Janitor -

You’re all nuts. 

Michael Chandler - like all Bellator fighters with average or above intelligence - would rather fight in the UFC, given the choice. He had a choice. He chose. 

Coker’s “ is a whole lot of spin. If he were to deliver the straightforward truth it’d sound like “Michael knows the UFC is a superior organization and when he had the chance to go it was a no fucking brainer. Michael spent HIS ENTIRE Bellator career thinking about fighting IN THE UFC.”

Not as “ but the truth. 

I don’t believe I am nuts.

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Malvert the Janitor - 

You’re all nuts. 

Michael Chandler - like all Bellator fighters with average or above intelligence - would rather fight in the UFC, given the choice. He had a choice. He chose. 

Coker’s “ is a whole lot of spin. If he were to deliver the straightforward truth it’d sound like “Michael knows the UFC is a superior organization and when he had the chance to go it was a no fucking brainer. Michael spent HIS ENTIRE Bellator career thinking about fighting IN THE UFC.”

Not as “ but the truth. 

Meanwhile, other fighters have left the UFC for Bellator.