The UFC has reigned supreme over the mixed martial arts marketplace for the past decade, buying out and absorbing competing promotions under the Zuffa banner. But with MMA fighters finding more leverage in free agency as the sport’s popularity continues to grow, rival companies are beginning to make a comeback.
Bellator MMA is the first one starting to make a serious push, most recently poaching former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson from Dana White and co. on Monday. The Henderson deal was historic, as no former UFC champion had ever switched to Bellator while still in the prime of his or her career.
Two days later, Bellator President Scott Coker inked Sergei Kharitinov, one of the hottest free agents on the market and a man who has defeated current UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum.
Coker, the former head of Strikeforce — the last major MMA organization acquired by the UFC — has vowed to stock his rosterwith more big names as the year progresses, and he should not find too much trouble given Bellator’s mass media backing (owned by Viacom) and sponsorship incentives (no uniform deal).
But which current UFC fighters are most likely to follow in Henderson’s footsteps?
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LINK: Alistair Overeem And Other Ranked UFC Fighters Most Likely To Follow Benson Henderson to Bellator
