Tag: Scott Coker

Khabib Nurmagomedov showers praise on Bellator MMA vs. Rizin event: ‘This is unbelievable’

Khabib Nurmagomedov Scott CokerFormer undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is said to have been left awestruck by last weekend’s Bellator MMA vs. Rizin event in Saitama, Japan – describing the cross-promoted event as “unbelievable” according to Bellator president, Scott Coker. Khabib, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, retired from active competition back […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov Scott Coker

Former undisputed UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is said to have been left awestruck by last weekend’s Bellator MMA vs. Rizin event in Saitama, Japan – describing the cross-promoted event as “unbelievable” according to Bellator president, Scott Coker.

Khabib, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, retired from active competition back in October 2020 on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE – improving to 29-0 with a second round triangle submission win over then-interim titleholder, Justin Gaethje. 

In the time since, the Dagestan native has turned his hand successfully to coaching – guiding both Islam Makhachev, and Usman Nurmagomedov to lightweight gold under the UFC and Bellator MMA banners, respectively, as well as heading up Florida-based promotion, Eagle FC. 

Scott Coker details attending Bellator MMA vs. Rizin alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov

Attending Bellator MMA vs. Rizin on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Khabib, who sat alongside the above-mentioned, Coker, is said to have been left in amazement by the event and pageantry. 

“It’s very interesting, because he (Khabib Nurmagomedov) wasn’t here in the heyday,” Scott Coker told assembled media at the post-fight press conference. “I got to see those fights. A lot ofyou know that [I’ve been] in the martial arts business a long time, I started working for K-1 in 199, so I got to see all the great fights in K-1. I got to see the great fights of PRIDE. And Khabib has never see the production and the fans, and he was freaking out.”

“He was telling me, ‘This is unbelievable,’” Scott Coker said of Khabib Nurmagomedov. “He kept telling me, ‘This is unbelievable. I had no idea that something like this was happening in Japan.’ And I said, ‘This is where it started, Khabib.’ This is where MMA and martial arts combat – it started here, it grew throughout the rest of the world, but there was a time when Japan had the best fighters in the world, the best production in the world, the best promotion in the world, and that’s why the UFC bought it (PRIDE). Just like my company, Strikefroce, I think we had a great roster, great events, so they (the UFC) bought it.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Scott Coker reacts to 5-0 sweep at Rizin FF vs Bellator: “This is the best roster we’ve ever had”

scott cokerTo the surprise of many, Bellator President Scott Coker saw his fighters go unbeaten in their New Years cross-promotion event with Rizin, going 5-0 through the five-fight main card. Rizin FF vs Bellator was hosted at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The main card opened up with lightweight talent Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-2) defeating […]

scott coker

To the surprise of many, Bellator President Scott Coker saw his fighters go unbeaten in their New Years cross-promotion event with Rizin, going 5-0 through the five-fight main card.

Rizin FF vs Bellator was hosted at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

The main card opened up with lightweight talent Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-2) defeating Koji Takeda (15-4), before former Bellator bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta (27-4) picked up his second straight victory over Soo Chul Kim (18-7-1).

The feature fight of the evening showcased former Rizin & Bellator bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) also win his second straight fight in his trilogy bout with Hiromasa Ougikubo (25-7-2), with Bellator featherweight champion and former Bellator lightweight champion Patricio Freire (35-5) defeating Rizin featherweight champion Kleber Koike Erbst (31-6-1) in the co-main event of the evening.

Erbst was 13-1 in his last 14 going into his bout with the fellow Brazilian, the only defeat coming to no. 7 ranked UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot.

Then we saw former Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee (20-1) defeat Rizin lightweight champion and BJJ world champion Roberto de Souza (14-2) in the main event of the evening, though the victory didn’t come without its troubles.

Scott Coker had the following to say in regards to his fighters performances at the event:

“I always said my wish was to go 5-0, and I’m happy that my guys won, but to me, it was very competitive out there,” Coker told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “That last fight, de Souza when he was fighting A.J., there were a couple of times I thought he might get tapped.

“It was very stressful to watch that last fight. It was very back and forth. I’m glad AJ did what he had to do to win. But anything can happen in a fight in MMA. It was an entertaining night of fights.”

“It just shows you how much the Rizin fighters to me have grown in the last five, six years. I see a big growth spur. Keep in mind, when you talk about the Bellator athletes, and I’m not just saying this because you know it’s the company I run, but over the last six, seven years, this is the best roster we’ve ever had in the history of the company.

“If you go all the way down the weight classes, we not just have fighters that can compete in the UFC, but we have fighters at three or four in each weight class that can compete against any company on the planet. We have a very strong, strong fighter base right now.”

Coker isn’t wrong, Bellator MMA has got some seriously skilled talents at the moment, and they’ll only get better as time continues to pass.

Wouldn’t it be great if Scott Coker could somehow convince UFC President Dana White to do a cross-promotion event?

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Bellator President Scott Coker weighs in on James Krause betting controversy

James KrauseBellator MMA President Scott Coker has issued a statement regarding the investigation of James Krause’s suspicious betting activities following UFC Vegas 64. The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Krause on November 18th following a bout earlier in the month between Darrick Minner, who trains with Krause, and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. Hours before the bout, betting lines swung massively […]

James Krause

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has issued a statement regarding the investigation of James Krause’s suspicious betting activities following UFC Vegas 64.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Krause on November 18th following a bout earlier in the month between Darrick Minner, who trains with Krause, and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. Hours before the bout, betting lines swung massively in favor of Nuerdanbieke to win inside the distance. It was later revealed that Minner had shown up for the bout with an undisclosed leg injury sustained prior to the event. Minner has since been released by the promotion.

As a result of the investigation, the gaming control board in New Jersey has announced sanctions against James Krause directly while the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario have prohibited UFC betting altogether. In a prepared statement courtesy of MMA Fighting, Coker fully supports the UFC’s actions to help protect the “integrity of MMA.”

“As a lifelong martial artist, integrity and honor have been the foundation upon which I have built my career as a Mixed Martial Arts promoter, and I believe that it is of utmost importance that the integrity of MMA remains unquestioned,” Coker stated in the release. “It is my understanding that certain regulatory agencies have taken action that they deem necessary to ensure that any appearance of impropriety is removed from our sport, and I support those actions.

“Bellator MMA is a promotion that highly values the importance of independent regulation of our sport, and we will continue to abide by the mandates of the regulatory bodies which sanction and oversee our events.”

Brandon Moreno Shares His Support For James Krause Amid Controversy

The UFC’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell released a statement on Friday revealing that any fighters who continue to be coached by James Krause or train at his gym, Glory MMA and Fitness, will not be permitted to compete under the UFC banner.

“UFC has since advised Krause and the respective managers working with impacted fighters, that effective immediately, fighters who choose to continue to be coached by Krause or who continue to train in his gym, will not be permitted to participate in UFC events pending the outcome of the aforementioned government investigations.”

James Krause’s most notable student today is UFC interim flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno. ‘The Assassin Baby’ is scheduled for a title unification bout with division rival Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 on January 21st when the promotion heads back to Brazil. Moreno shared support for his coach on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two embracing one another with the caption, “Waiting for justice.”

Scott Coker Reacts To Dillon Danis’ Recent Controversies, Post-Bellator Downfall

Bellator President Scott Coker feels Dillon Danis is doing himself a disservice with his recent controversies outside of fighting. Coker and Bellator had another successful night of business at Bellator 288 in Chicago on Saturday. The card featured two…

Bellator President Scott Coker feels Dillon Danis is doing himself a disservice with his recent controversies outside of fighting. Coker and Bellator had another successful night of business at Bellator 288 in Chicago on Saturday. The card featured two title fights, including Usman Nurmagomedov supplanting Patricky ‘Pitbull’ Freire for the lightweight title. Danis, who hasn’t…

Continue Reading Scott Coker Reacts To Dillon Danis’ Recent Controversies, Post-Bellator Downfall at MMA News.

Bellator president Scott Coker devastated by Anthony Johnson’s passing: “I think he was loved more than he knew.”

Scott Coker Anthony JohnsonBellator president Scott Coker struggled to receive the news of Anthony Johnson’s untimely passing. Earlier this week, it was made public that ‘Rumble’ passed away due to organ failure from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis Scott Coker had worked alongside ‘Rumble‘ before his passing. Coker said: “The guy was loved around the world. I think he was […]

Scott Coker Anthony Johnson

Bellator president Scott Coker struggled to receive the news of Anthony Johnson’s untimely passing. Earlier this week, it was made public that ‘Rumble’ passed away due to organ failure from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Scott Coker had worked alongside ‘Rumble‘ before his passing. Coker said:

“The guy was loved around the world. I think he was loved more than he knew – How many fans he had, or the impact he made.”

Coker remembers the first time he had met Johnson years ago. He recalled:

“I want to say I met Anthony when he career started. He was at Cung Le’s gym fighting at 170. I don’t think he was even at the UFC at that time. I got to know him a little bit and followed his career, and stayed in touch. When he became a free agent we said, let’s go get this guy because I think he’s a tremendous talent.”

Scott Coker was devasted by the news of Anthony Johnson

‘Rumble’ Anthony Johnson kept much of his sickness under wraps. Most people around him had an idea that he was unwell but it was never made public how severe his illness was. Coker explained:

“It was a devastating day. It’s unfortunate. I knew he was in and out of the hospital. I have texts of me and him texting like two months ago … I had no idea that he was this ill, and I think that he didn’t know, maybe … This came as a shock to us and the whole company because everybody loved that guy. It was devastating. It was a big loss.” [Transcript courtesy of MMA Weekly]

Anthony Johnson was a veteran of MMA who fought from welterweight to light heavy

Coker Explains Why European MMA Crowds Have More Passion

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has provided his take on why crowds at European events provide an extra level of energy and passion than is seen in North American. Coker’s promotion recently held a card in Dublin, Ireland, which has become ren…

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has provided his take on why crowds at European events provide an extra level of energy and passion than is seen in North American. Coker’s promotion recently held a card in Dublin, Ireland, which has become renowned for its atmosphere at MMA events. And Bellator 285, held at the 3Arena…

Continue Reading Coker Explains Why European MMA Crowds Have More Passion at MMA News.