Myles Jury | Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Bellator MMA looks poised to make its MMA return this summer, according to lightweight veteran Myles Jury (18-5), who told FanSided that he recently signed a contract to fight Georgi Karakhanyan (29-10-1, 1 NC) on July 17th.
“We’re still waiting on a location, but that’s my next scrap and that’s what I’m focused on. I think Georgi is a tough guy with a good right hand and a good guillotine. I believe I out-match him in every aspect of the game – striking, grappling – and I feel like this is going to be a dominant performance for me.”
Coincidentally, this news comes just as Boxing Scene interviewed Showtime Vice President of Sports Programming Stephen Espinoza, where he mentioned that he and Bellator President Scott Coker had “serious discussions” about holding a crossover event with both MMA and boxing on the bill.
“Crossover events are certainly one of the ideas Scott and I have kicked around and brainstormed, and pairing them together programming wise on the same night (to) start blending those audiences together with a hybrid event at some point.”
Coker went on to confirm that the idea of a Bellator MMA events for Showtime was a possibility, renewing a relationship he previously had with both Espinoza and the premium cable outlet as the President of Strikeforce.
“Whether it’s fighter vs. fighter, or an event where you do both styles in the same night, the door is open, and those conversations are happening. It hasn’t been determined, but I do think it will happen at some point. There will be boxing guys going into MMA, and MMA guys going into boxing. That’s something Stephen and I have talked about.”
Whether Jury’s statement and the high level discussions between Coker and Espinoza are related is a matter of conjecture. Coker previously entertained the idea of a mid-July return and provided an outline for how it could happen to FanSided — and Showtime was brought up in those plans.
“We would love to be in Los Angeles, you know, at the CBS spot to do shows. And, you know, with all of us being family now, we would talk to Showtime about sharing the stage with their championship boxing and Bellator. So, if we can get a sound stage for three months, I think it makes a lot of sense to share the space between us, and just trade out the ring for the cage when it’s time for Bellator and vice-versa for Showtime Boxing.”
If the math adds up then the sum may equal live Bellator fights in just a couple of months.
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