How long before Bellator overtakes the UFC?

[Mix6APlix]

Hell, wme should have given me 4 billion to play Golden Tee and video poker. They clearly have no idea wtf they are doing. Fighters are going to Bellator left and right, and as more fighters fight out their contract or choose to hide and never fight again, this trend will continue. So how long before Bellator is king? Plus Bellator is in cahoots with Glory, and cross promotion has already happened iirc.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

As much as I'd love to see it, it's hard to say if they ever will.

Bellator's biggest fight is against perception, and they're making some mistakes in that department. The perception is that the UFC has the best fighters in the world, and that if you're not in the UFC it's because you're not good enough. They don't push fighters anywhere close to the way they push their brand, which is genius on their part.

Bellator has made a lot of great moves, and you all know I'm a fan. But when they book former UFC guys like Rampage and Chael over their own titles, they're re-enforcing that perception that the UFC is better, and that's a mistake.

 

[silentsinger]

I think you underestimate how many knuckleheaded twats still refer to the sport as “fighting UFC”.

 

[sparkuri]

Never.
The only way this happens is if somehow the lawsuit judge throws the book at them and then some, they find out about Dana's illegal crap, they bar him from the sport, and other outrageous stars align.
The name is synonymous with MMA combat.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

The name is synonymous with MMA combat.

In North America.

One of the smartest moves Coker has made is taking Bellator international. Conquer the outside world, and whose better known in 'Merica won't matter.

 

[regular john]

Bellator is in cahoots with Glory, and cross promotion has already happened iirc.

They've co-promoted once and it was a big failure and Bellator has launched its own kickboxing brand which is a joke.

That doesn't have to do anything with overtaking the ufc though.

 

[sparkuri]

In North America.

One of the smartest moves Coker has made is taking Bellator international. Conquer the outside world, and whose better known in 'Merica won't matter.

As far as that goes, I could see Bellator trying something with ONE FC and Rich Franklin.
Not sure if Rizin collaboration is still an open avenue moving forward.
Japan's well known for saying one thing & doing another.
I'd love to see Horiguchi grace Bellator.

 

[yuushi]

If it's going to happen, it will only be when the UFC completely implodes on it own.

Last I remember, the Bellator PPV didn't do as well as they'd hope, so unless their TV ratings improve . . .

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

View: https://twitter.com/MMAanalytics/status/982011371477860352?s=19

 

[Gibberish]

 

[Mad Dog]

I don't see it happening any time soon. Bellator just doesn't seem to be gaining any traction. It's nothing like the excitement Strikeforce used to bring.

 

[Wild]

They never will but I hope they can grow as strong & deep at Strikeforce was back in the day. SF was an extremely entertaining promotion and a legit #2.

 

[Wild]

I don't see it happening any time soon. Bellator just doesn't seem to be gaining any traction. It's nothing like the excitement Strikeforce used to bring.

I think it will get there in a couple of years when guys like Pico, Ruth, Fortune, Cotton, Storley, McKee, etc continue to develop and gain exposure. They have a lot of quality young guns in the stable.

 

[yuushi]

Also isn't helping much that with their touted HW Grand Prix appears to have one fight in the tourney in like every third event thus far.

When do they hope to host the Tournament final? Next spring?

You'd think Coker would have learned from his Grand Prix debacle in Strikeforce when he broke up the quarterfinals in to two different events and made it drag on forever until no one seemed to care about it.

Now he's dragging this one out even longer.