Bellator Boss on Board with Brent Primus-Michael Chandler Rematch

Brent Primus took advantage of his opportunity this past weekend at Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva, defeating Michael Chandler and becoming the new lightweight champion. Chandler suffered a gruesome ankle injury during the fight, which ultimately led to the doctor stopping the action. So, does Bellator president Scott Coker want to see a rematch between […]

Brent Primus took advantage of his opportunity this past weekend at Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva, defeating Michael Chandler and becoming the new lightweight champion. Chandler suffered a gruesome ankle injury during the fight, which ultimately led to the doctor stopping the action. So, does Bellator president Scott Coker want to see a rematch between […]

Scott Coker Criticizes UFC Reebok Deal: It Should Be Against Labor Laws

Bellator MMA might not have the reach that the UFC has or the depth of talent, but the one thing that makes Bellator stand out is the way they handle fighter sponsorship. Bellator allows an open sponsorship situation where fighters can advertise companies in the cage. The UFC had the same system until they teamed […]

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Bellator MMA might not have the reach that the UFC has or the depth of talent, but the one thing that makes Bellator stand out is the way they handle fighter sponsorship. Bellator allows an open sponsorship situation where fighters can advertise companies in the cage. The UFC had the same system until they teamed up with Reebok.

This has been an issue with fighters who compete under the UFC banner, which is making some jump to Bellator. Obviously, Bellator president Scott Coker is using this as a big reason for fighters to cross the lines to join his company.

In the past, Coker has gone on record by saying how the Reebok deal has been great for Bellator. Now, he is questioning the legality of the UFC’s uniform situation.

“Listen, they’re independent contractors,” he said on the latest episode of The MMA Hour.“How they’re forced to wear uniforms, to this day, still baffles me. It should be against the labor laws or something. Because you have to wear this sponsor? You have to wear a certain uniform when you fight? To me, they should be contractual position to get whatever sponsor they want. If Ryan Bader went out and made a million dollars in sponsorship, good for you!”

Bader, who won the Bellator light heavyweight title from Phil Davis in the main event of Bellator 180 over the weekend, was one of many fighters who departed from the UFC to jump to Bellator. Bader has revealed that he is making three to four times more money on the smaller platform than he was with the UFC.

All of that is fine and dandy, but the question remains, is Bellator getting a piece of fighter sponsorship money? According to Coker, they are not.

“No,” Coker said flatly. In fact, he blamed the UFC’s sponsorship tax on killing the sponsor scene. “It was running out because the company was trying to impose a tax, and even if they could sponsor, they would have to pay the UFC the tax.”

For those who want to see the Reebok deal go away, well you are going to have to wait for that day to come as the deal is set to last several more years.

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Scott Coker Says UFC’s Reebok Deal Should be Against Labor Laws

Bellator President Scott Coker isn’t a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) deal with Reebok. The UFC is the top mixed martial arts organization, but Bellator holds the number two spot. A big difference between the two promotions is the way sponsorships are handled. The UFC forces their fighters to wear Reebok gear through […]

Bellator President Scott Coker isn’t a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) deal with Reebok. The UFC is the top mixed martial arts organization, but Bellator holds the number two spot. A big difference between the two promotions is the way sponsorships are handled. The UFC forces their fighters to wear Reebok gear through […]

Scott Coker Eyeing Another Bellator PPV For Early 2018

Scott Coker would like to hold another Bellator pay-per-view (PPV) next year. Last night (June 24), Bellator NYC took place live inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was Bellator’s first PPV under Coker as the promotion’s President. It featured two title fights, a heavyweight legend, and a grudge match. Bellator 180 also […]

Scott Coker would like to hold another Bellator pay-per-view (PPV) next year. Last night (June 24), Bellator NYC took place live inside Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was Bellator’s first PPV under Coker as the promotion’s President. It featured two title fights, a heavyweight legend, and a grudge match. Bellator 180 also […]

Bellator NYC Post-Fight Press Conference

Tonight’s (Saturday, June 24th, 2017) Bellator NYC event is in the books from the Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bellator NYC was headlined by Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. In the co-main event, MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko took on former UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione. Rounding out the main card was Michael Chandler defending […]

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Tonight’s (Saturday, June 24th, 2017) Bellator NYC event is in the books from the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Bellator NYC was headlined by Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva. In the co-main event, MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko took on former UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione. Rounding out the main card was Michael Chandler defending his lightweight title as well as Douglas Lima defending his welterweight title against Lorenz Larkin, and Aaron Pico vs. Zach Freeman in a lightweight bout. A light heavyweight title fight headlined the Bellator 180 main card.

Join LowKick MMA for the event’s post-fight press conference starting shortly after the event is over.

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Scott Coker Willing To Make Liddell vs. Ortiz Rubber Match

Over the last month or so, rumors regarding a potential return to action for former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell began to swirl. In addition to that, Liddell teased a trilogy bout with fellow former UFC champion and longtime rival Tito Ortiz, which led to the two going back-and-forth on social media. Both men […]

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Over the last month or so, rumors regarding a potential return to action for former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell began to swirl. In addition to that, Liddell teased a trilogy bout with fellow former UFC champion and longtime rival Tito Ortiz, which led to the two going back-and-forth on social media.

Both men are currently retired, as “The Iceman” hasn’t competed since 2010, while Ortiz hung up his gloves after scoring a submission victory over Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170 last January.

Given the age of both men, Bellator seems likely the landing spot for a trilogy bout between Liddell and Ortiz if it were to actually take place. Scott Coker has gained a bit of reputation for creating ‘legend fights’, and it turns out that the Bellator president would be willing to book a bout between Liddell and Ortiz:

“If Tito wanted to do it, would I do it? I think I might do it,” Coker told MMA Fighting. “To me, why not? If they all pass their medicals and their physicals. It’s a fight that I would love to see. But I think Tito is retired and we’re talking about hypotheticals that [probably] won’t happen.”

Despite saying he would indeed make the fight, Coker saying that it probably ‘won’t happen’ may serve as a sigh of relief to fight fans who are sick of seeing their favorite veterans return to the cage long after their primes.

An interesting thing to note, however, is that Coker has met with Liddell recently, although he claims it was simply to discuss a brand ambassador role:

“Chuck, he’s a guy I grew up watching fight on pay per view,” Coker said. “I think he and Tito and Randy Couture basically were the building blocks of the future and the success of the UFC.”

“As far as his legendary status, [Liddell has] already done everything he can in the sport,” he continued. “When we’ve met, he has not talked about fighting. So we’re just talking about a brand ambassadorship at this point.”

Would you like to see Liddell and Ortiz run it back a third time?

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