Scott Coker: I'm going to celebrate

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                            <h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=435380" target="_blank">
                                Scott Coker: I'm going to celebrate

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Strikeforce will air a final event on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/PT) from Oklahoma City on Saturday night.

It's a bittersweet ending, says Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker, who got his start promoting martial arts events in 1985 while working part time as a Bay Area karate instructor.

At first, Strikeforce's ambitions were strictly local. It operated mainly out of HP Pavilion, also home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. Near the end of 2007, when the Sharks owners at Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment Inc. expressed an interest in buying a 50 percent ownership stake in Strikeforce, Coker saw the opportunity to create something bigger.

In 2009, Strikeforce, with help from its new partner, purchased fighter contracts and an existing TV deal with CBS and Showtime from struggling MMA promoter ProElite.

Soon Strikeforce signed marquee fighters such as Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson, and launched an ambitious heavyweight tournament.

But when Zuffa made an offer to buy out its largest competitor, Coker says his partners felt it was time to get out of the MMA business and refocus on hockey.

"I think this is a good way to close the chapter, and it's something that I'm going to celebrate," Coker says. "I've been in the fight business 27 years. That's a long time, a long run, and I'm going to celebrate this."


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He's got the right attitude about it, that's for sure.

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Believe it or not I'm going to miss Strikeforce Phone Post

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Coker was always a class act- back to his K1 USA days

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That was the best challenge to the UFC that came in north america. Good job Scott, thanks for entraintaining us.

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BRZ - 

Believe it or not I'm going to miss Strikeforce Phone Post



Me too, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we haven't seen the last of Coker in MMA/combat sports:)



 



Cindy

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he would be a good fit with wsof.

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I've always liked Coker. Phone Post

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Has anyone ever heard of Coker doing anything bad in MMA? Seems like a really down to earth generally awesome guy.

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Damn right I'm gonna miss SF. It was cool that sometimes after a completely lackluster UFC PPV, you could tune into Strikeforce and be blown away by entertaining fights.
Kinda sad really.

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MMALOGIC - 


he would be a good fit with wsof.



Yeah or Invicta and bring them some broadcast professionalism

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Thanks Scott for an awesome job you did throughout the years. And big ups for getting Fedor in the states for a short while, even if it was bitter sweet.

Good luck in life :) Phone Post

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Coker is probably the classiest promoter in the fight biz. I feel that Strikeforce really catered to the fans and put together the strongest promotion in MMA history, outside of Pride and the UFC.

Hopefully this last card goes out with a bang, but I think a lot of guys will play it safe to make sure they get that UFC contract. Regardless, Strikeforce is gonna be missed.

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good for him. i hope hes made enough to live comfortably

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Scott Coker always seemed to be highly professional and a nice guy Phone Post

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Scott seems like a good guy, I wish him well. Phone Post

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CindyO - 
BRZ - 

Believe it or not I'm going to miss Strikeforce Phone Post



Me too, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we haven't seen the last of Coker in MMA/combat sports:)



 



Cindy


I agree, Coker has always seemed like a nice guy, it would be interesting to see what the terms of his non-compete agreement are.

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Bootsy Collins - Coker was always a class act- back to his K1 USA days

Even well before the K-1 days. Going back to his Strikeforce kickboxing events in the 80's and 90's. He used to put on some great shows back then.