Bellator is proving to be MMA's healthy No. 2

[Wild]

Nearly seven years after the promotion hosted its first MMA event, Bellator may finally be hitting its stride.

Long viewed as an inferior alternative to the industry-leading UFC, the Bellator brand is currently riding higher than ever under the leadership of president Scott Coker, a 30-year promoter who took over the Bellator helm in 2014.

“Our TV ratings have gone up,” Coker tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie. “Our gates have also gone up. Our sponsorships have gone up, and our international distribution and international dollars have gone up significantly.

“I do believe that MMA will continue to grow. It’s not going anywhere, and Bellator is definitely here to stay.”

Because of the organization’s partnership with Spike, which has recently dabbled in other combat sports, Henderson said Bellator offered things, including the potential for pro boxing and kickboxing bouts, that the UFC couldn’t.

“It’s definitely what helped sell me on the idea of Bellator,” Henderson says.

The deal was a major coup for the promotion, and Coker thinks it’s proof the organization can be a major player for other top free agents. However, he doesn’t expect a rash of bidding wars.

“I’ve always said that with certain fighters, we’re not going to go after them, and for certain fighters, we will,” Coker said. “And the ones that we will, we’re going to go after really hard like we did Benson.

“It’s up to me and my guys to make sure that it makes sense internally for Bellator to be able to monetize the situation, too. It can’t be just that we’re going to go after every fighter. It’s not like a free-agent war game. It’s going to be the guys that we want, and we’re going to strategically go after them and try our best to get them.”

A few other highly touted free agents, including heavyweight Alistair Overeem and bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling, went the opposite direction and ultimately re-signed with the UFC. But Coker said he didn’t identify them as necessary targets.

“It comes down to this: The fighter that we get, do we have great match-ups for him?” Coker said. “Can he move the TV ratings needle and put butts in seats, or can we build him or her? That’s really what it comes down to for me, and that’s really how I feel.

“There are probably more free agents available today than ever. I think some of the free agents feel that they’re going to come out there and then just get paid all this money. That’s not the case either. People aren’t going to overpay. People are going to pay the real value, and I think that’s what the misconception is.”

LINK: For Scott Coker, Bellator is proving to be MMA's healthy No. 2

 

[Deleted member 1]

and our international distribution and international dollars have gone up significantly.

This is the secret here.
Bellator has a LOOnnnnnggggggg way to go for the domestic mindshare, even when they get ratings.
But internationally, there is room to move.

 

[Silverball]

I hate to say it, but Ariel Helwani made a good point on yesterday's MMA Beat show. As we approach the two year mark of Coker's involvement with Bellator, where's the new blood he was supposed to sign/bring in. They did manage to snare a bigger free agent in Henderson, but Benson's kind of an outlier at this point, especially after Bellator's non-attempts at signing Overeem or Sterling. He has signed Royce, Kimbo, Ken Shamrock, Dada, Leben, and he resigned Rampage, not to take anything away from what he has done. Oh, and of course Bellator kickboxing, with the new logo that looks exactly like the old logo, but blue.

While I believe Coker is very intelligent guy with a vision for the future of Bellator's involvement in combat sports, I also think that one of the key factors in Strikeforce reaching the level they did was the purchase of Elite XC, which is too often overlooked. He found a quick fix for the lack of relevant talent in Strikeforce, which is very different from the tale he tells when describing how he plans to build Bellator into more than an org that headlines cards with backyard brawlers and decades old grudge matches between guys in their fifties.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

I hate to say it, but Ariel Helwani made a good point on yesterday's MMA Beat show. As we approach the two year mark of Coker's involvement with Bellator, where's the new blood he was supposed to sign/bring in. They did manage to snare a bigger free agent in Henderson, but Benson's kind of an outlier at this point, especially after Bellator's non-attempts at signing Overeem or Sterling. He has signed Royce, Kimbo, Ken Shamrock, Dada, Leben, and he resigned Rampage, not to take anything away from what he has done. Oh, and of course Bellator kickboxing, with the new logo that looks exactly like the old logo, but blue.

While I believe Coker is very intelligent guy with a vision for the future of Bellator's involvement in combat sports, I also think that one of the key factors in Strikeforce reaching the level they did was the purchase of Elite XC, which is too often overlooked. He found a quick fix for the lack of relevant talent in Strikeforce, which is very different from the tale he tells when describing how he plans to build Bellator into more than an org that headlines cards with backyard brawlers and decades old grudge matches between guys in their fifties.

If you honestly look at bellators talent, they have some good fighters. Fighters like yamauchi, Sanchez, Caldwell, aj McGee. Anderson. Held. They also have three hopefully making their debuts in late 2016/ early 2017. Pico, Ruth, fortune.

Coker just seems to want to beat the UFC to the punch when it comes to certain things like women's lighter divisions. They are also doing kickboxing.. They signed three braziliian ladies. Also, Anastasia, and Lena (idk if I spelled her name right.)

Also as splinty highlighted above, bellator seems to want to move into some international territory where there is a lot of money to be made. The man has made connections with road, rizin, and oktagon. Cokers mentioning of international activity going up should raise a lot of eyebrows.

I feel like we are going to be singing a different tune when everyone Coker has signed debut.

 

[Punch]

Am i the only one who chuckled at "Healthy number 2"?

 

[TheEmperorRises]

I hate to say it, but Ariel Helwani made a good point on yesterday's MMA Beat show. As we approach the two year mark of Coker's involvement with Bellator, where's the new blood he was supposed to sign/bring in. They did manage to snare a bigger free agent in Henderson, but Benson's kind of an outlier at this point, especially after Bellator's non-attempts at signing Overeem or Sterling. He has signed Royce, Kimbo, Ken Shamrock, Dada, Leben, and he resigned Rampage, not to take anything away from what he has done. Oh, and of course Bellator kickboxing, with the new logo that looks exactly like the old logo, but blue.

While I believe Coker is very intelligent guy with a vision for the future of Bellator's involvement in combat sports, I also think that one of the key factors in Strikeforce reaching the level they did was the purchase of Elite XC, which is too often overlooked. He found a quick fix for the lack of relevant talent in Strikeforce, which is very different from the tale he tells when describing how he plans to build Bellator into more than an org that headlines cards with backyard brawlers and decades old grudge matches between guys in their fifties.

Aaron Picco, Tyrell Fortune, Ed Ruth, Gilbert Smith, Isao Kobayashi, Anastasia Yankova, Djamil Chan, Lena Ovchynnikova, Mark Dickman, Andre Fialho, Keri Taylor-Melendez....

Ariel works for the UFC. Of course he's gonna talk shit.

 

[Ministry of Silly Walks]

Am i the only one who chuckled at "Healthy number 2"?

nothing like a sneaky poop joke. lol

 

[Silverball]

Aaron Picco, Tyrell Fortune, Ed Ruth, Gilbert Smith, Isao Kobayashi, Anastasia Yankova, Djamil Chan, Lena Ovchynnikova, Mark Dickman, Andre Fialho, Keri Taylor-Melendez....

Ariel works for the UFC. Of course he's gonna talk shit.

That's why I prefaced my post with "I hate to say it", and Ariel along with the rest of his panel overlooked the Elite XC purchase as well. We'll see how relevant that list of names is a year from now, and believe me, I'd like things to pan out for the sake of the sport.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

That's why I prefaced my post with "I hate to say it", and Ariel along with the rest of his panel overlooked the Elite XC purchase as well. We'll see how relevant that list of names is a year from now, and believe me, I'd like things to pan out for the sake of the sport.

Remember too that that list doesn't include the young fighters who were already signed with Bellator-

Neiman Gracie, Adam Piccolotti, Michael Venom Page, Brennan Ward, Goiti Yammauchi, Rickey Rainey, Eduardo Dantes, Darrion Caldwell, Bubba Jenkins, Jordan Parsons, Chidi Njoukani (actually I think Chidi is a new signing..)

But you see my point.

 

[Wild]

If Tyrell Fortune takes to striking whatsoever, he is going to be a superstar for Bellator. Mark my words. This motherfucker is an animal.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDaUQcSoSfg

 

[Silverball]

Remember too that that list doesn't include the young fighters who were already signed with Bellator-

Neiman Gracie, Adam Piccolotti, Michael Venom Page, Brennan Ward, Goiti Yammauchi, Rickey Rainey, Eduardo Dantes, Darrion Caldwell, Bubba Jenkins, Jordan Parsons, Chidi Njoukani (actually I think Chidi is a new signing..)

But you see my point.

Definitely, and I think your list helps to illustrate that a lot of the relevant fighters currently signed to Bellator were there prior to Coker's arrival. Let's not forget Chandler, Brooks, the Pitbull brothers, Daniel Straus, and so on.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Definitely, and I think your list helps to illustrate that a lot of the relevant fighters currently signed to Bellator were there prior to Coker's arrival. Let's not forget Chandler, Brooks, the Pitbull brothers, Daniel Straus, and so on.

Coker hasn't been there for that long yet (not even to the 2 year mark yet). Give him time. Things are heading in the right direction.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

If Tyrell Fortune takes to striking whatsoever, he is going to be a superstar for Bellator. Mark my words. This motherfucker is an animal.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDaUQcSoSfg

I'm watching those takedowns and thinking "Now imagine what he's gonna be like once they let him punch and elbow.."

SCARY.

 

[Silverball]

Coker hasn't been there for that long yet (not even to the 2 year mark yet). Give him time. Things are heading in the right direction.

I believe in Coker's vision, but I worry that Viacom isn't backing him financially in a manner that will bring that vision to fruition. Two years is and isn't a short period of time on which to pass judgement, depending on what you're looking for.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

I believe in Coker's vision, but I worry that Viacom isn't backing him financially in a manner that will bring that vision to fruition. Two years is and isn't a short period of time on which to pass judgement, depending on what you're looking for.

To me his first year was like the first year of being President- it's more about assessing what you were left with, what works and what doesn't. Ratings are up. House gates are up. More sponsors. International shows. Now Bellator: Kickboxing.

I'm excited to see what's next. To me, he's living up to his promise to make MMA fun again.

 

[Clappin'Daddys]

To me his first year was like the first year of being President- it's more about assessing what you were left with, what works and what doesn't. Ratings are up. House gates are up. More sponsors. International shows. Now Bellator: Kickboxing.

I'm excited to see what's next. To me, he's living up to his promise to make MMA fun again.

One thing to be considered is that Coker had to basically ride out the events that were already scheduled and the tournys that had to finish.. One could argue that he didn't start making his moves until half a year after taking the helm. Dude is definitely brining financial stability to bellator I'll tell u that much. Now he needs to taper off the freakshows imo

 

[Wild]

Yeah his first year was basically spent repairing the damage Bjorn had done. Restructuring contracts, renegotiating sponsors, mending relationships, etc.

 

[FadeToBlack]

If Tyrell Fortune takes to striking whatsoever, he is going to be a superstar for Bellator. Mark my words. This motherfucker is an animal.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDaUQcSoSfg

I was browsing his YouTube wrestling videos earlier, the thing I noticed is he's very hard to move and he's a beefy, strong motherfucker. His wrestling credentials make him potentially dangerous even now in the global MMA HW division.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

nothing like a sneaky poop joke. lol

 

[giusti825]

This was terrible for bellator and mma.....coker is making a joke of the sport. He needs to make a real move to compete.....this freakshow fight garbage no longer has any place in the sport. Congrats on getting henderson.....now pick up more legitimate competition for him to fight.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

This was terrible for bellator and mma.....coker is making a joke of the sport. He needs to make a real move to compete.....this freakshow fight garbage no longer has any place in the sport. Congrats on getting henderson.....now pick up more legitimate competition for him to fight.

CM Punk vs Mickey Gall

 

[Silverball]

CM Punk vs Mickey Gall

If it happens, and it wouldn't be the main or co-main event on a pay per view or a Big FOX show.

 

[Zeph]

I'm not sure I would call tonight healthy.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

If it happens, and it wouldn't be the main or co-main event on a pay per view or a Big FOX show.

You sure?

Even if it's not- they will put this fight on and be just as guilty as Bellator. All about ratings and this shit fight got people talking.

 

[Zeph]

You sure?

Even if it's not- they will put this fight on and be just as guilty as Bellator. All about ratings and this shit fight got people talking.

It wouldn't. Stick to shilling for Bellator.