Bellator isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, according to its President, Scott Coker.
The promotion announced its historic 300th event yesterday (Weds., Aug. 9, 2023), featuring four title fights that will go down in San Diego, California on Oct. 7, 2023. Titles at Heavyweight, Lightweight, women’s Featherweight, and women’s Flyweight will be on the line as champion, Ryan Bader, Usman Nurmagomedov, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, and Liz Carmouche all look to defend opposite Linton Vassell, Brent Primus, Cat Zingano, and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
Unfortunately for Bellator, a lot of the buzz surrounding it in 2023 has been about potentially selling from parent company, Viacom, or folding entirely. Former Bellator commentator, Jimmy Smith, spoke to Bloody Elbow’s John S. Nash this week and Nash shared he’s hearing that Bellator 300 will be the last event under the current management. Coker has now refuted the claims when speaking with Smith himself.
“We’re gonna keep doing more fights,” Coker told MMA on Sirius XM. “John is incorrect in his projection. Listen, I’ll give him an A for effort and there’s a lot of rumors out there. Let’s see what happens.
“In the meantime, Jimmy, we’re gonna keep promoting fights,” he continued. “We’re already planning 301 right now, we already got 302 kind of planned out. We’re looking forward to next year. I think it’s gonna be another big year for Bellator so tell John I think he’s incorrect and I think we’re gonna keep doing more fights this year.”
Bellator’s last event went down at the end of July, collaborating once again with RIZIN Fighting Federation for Super RIZIN 2. Bellator 298 is headlined by a Welterweight contender bout between Logan Storley and Brennan Ward, taking place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota tomorrow night (Fri., Aug. 11, 2023).
LOL Rumors more Than Fleetwood Mac and Cheese
If a president is saying it, it must be true.
Bellator was dead since Coker took over and they ran the old guy off.
Wonder what that guys up to. Bjorn right? Started it up and got voted out by his own board and then ufc shill Coker took over.
Transparent as hell.
“they are already planning 301 right now” Sounds like they’re not planning very far ahead.
people who are right about to sell say this kind of stuff.
We shall see
Bjorn was a total dickhead. Fuck that egotistical asshole. Coker is doing what he has to do and denying the sale. They are done.
They planned out 302 before planning 301?
Gee, I wonder why they can’t seem to get it together…
“We’re currently planning 301.”
“Bellator 301? So Bellator 300 is not your last event???”
“No, we are planning 301 severance packages for our roster and staff.”
McTTT
Anybody remember Dana and the Fertitas vehemently denying the sale, until it was done?
“Sale? What sale? There is no sale.”
Coker has done a terrible job with Bellator.
He really has. They have some amazing talent but fuck they somehow put out the most boring cards. Obviously nothing as horrible and trash like PFL but its getting there
Yeah but you had to give him this job.
He did an amazing job making Strikeforce a good solid long term business.
