Scott Coker details BAMMA and BELLATOR collaboration; say promotion will go after free agents

Bellator MMA President Scott Coker says the promotion are looking forward to a long relationship with BAMMA ahead of their joint venture with the European based promotion.

Coker joined Talking Brawls Podcast exclusively to talk about the fight card and a number of other issues, including Bellator’s activity in the free agency market.

“There’s probably going to be six Bellator fights, and I believe there’s going to be more BAMMA fights, probably ten or twelve fights for BAMMA.”

Coker also confirmed the agreement between the two promotions will allow BAMMA fighters to fight on the Bellator main card, as we’ve seen with Paul Redmond. The BAMMA fighter will face Daniel Weichel on the Bellator main card.

” I said to David Green; If there’s a slot on the Bellator card and you guys want to send one of your guys over to the Bellator side to fight, that will be open as well. So, we are still working out the details.”

The former Strikeforce President is looking forward to a lengthy relationship with BAMMA, and didn’t rule out making a takeover bid for BAMMA in the future, whilst Coker was president of Strikeforce he acquired the Elite XC promotion in 2008.

” We are owned by Viacom, which is a powerful media company. I think all options are open at this point. Me and David really haven’t talked about that. I think he enjoys BAMMA. I think he has some really good partners there who have been doing a good job. I’ve been watching them from across the pond and I think we will definitely be working together (in the future).”

The San Jose native also confirmed that Bellator are still very much testing the waters with some of the top free agents in MMA. Coker has solid relationships with the likes of lorenz Larkin, who is currently unsigned. The Bellator President was in charge of Strikeforce when Larkin was signed to that promotion.

“ My guys are talking with the top managers and match makers over there. I not sure that they’re in talks with those two gentlemen. Lorenz is a guy we had fight in Strikeforce at the very beginning of his career. I gave my guys the task of finding the best guys from around the world. Bellator is not just a product of the UFC anymore. This a product where we are going to travel the world, and we need the best guys on our roster.”

BAMMA 29/Bellator 169 card takes place in the 3Arena, Dec. 16th

You can listen to the full interview on this week’s Talking Brawls podcast on SevereMMA:

• Joe McColgan Interview starts at approx 24:00 
• Scott Coker Interview starts at approx 47:30