MMA Fighting reports on Scott Coker’s impressions of the UFC lawsuit as it pertains to how his organization is described in the lawsuit as a “minor league.”
Coker indicated in the article that he had not read the Complaint (we assume the first one filed by Le, Quarry and Fitch but all of them mirror each other) filed by former UFC fighters against Zuffa. Unsurprisingly, Coker does not think that Bellator is a minor league. He did not comment on whether the UFC was a monopoly or his thoughts on the lawsuit. He did indicate that Bellator and parent company Viacom had nothing to do with the lawsuit.
Coker also stated to MMA Fighting that it reached out to Brock Lesnar about fighting with the company. Lesnar’s WWE contract ends after Wrestlemania in March. He also stated that Bellator would be in on “every single major MMA free agent in 2015.” Apparently this also may mean every pro wrestler wanting to be an MMA fighter as it has initiated talks with former WWE star Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio is slated to do some dates with Ring of Honor Wrestling in the new year but Bellator has reached out. The 37 year old Del Rio (real name Jose Rodriguez) has an MMA background including two fights in Pride which includes a loss to Mirko Cro Cop in 2003 per Sherdog. His last MMA fight was in February 2010.
Payout Perspective:
The lawsuit filed against the UFC has to be of interest for Bellator and its own business practices. For the cynical, the fact that Coker did not read the lawsuit or watch the press conference announcing the lawsuit allows him plausible deniability on commenting on his impressions of what was filed and what he thinks becomes of it. Certainly, Bellator lawyers are keeping an eye on the litigation that is evolving in San Jose. Yet, Coker denying that Bellator is “minor league” is not surprising. As the head of the organization, he does not want the company characterized in that way as it sends a message to fighters, sponsors and advertisers.
Will Bellator business come into scrutiny if the UFC lawsuit gets to substantive legal issues? Certainly. But, even before the lawsuit, in January of this year White stressed that Viacom-backed Bellator was a competitor (h/t MMA Junkie). Coker’s comments appear to indirectly support White’s statement here which may be beneficial for Zuffa in the lawsuit.
As for its strategy in 2015 of actively pursuing free agents, looking at a pair of 37 year olds (Lesnar and Del Rio) may not be best for competition but as we are seeing, MMA is moving to more entertainment than pure sport. Bellator’s biggest night occurred with a Tito Ortiz-Stephan Bonnar main event. The UFC recently signed 36 year old CM Punk. Signing Lesnar would be huge for Bellator. Although the former UFC Heavyweight Champ may be past his prime, he is a proven draw. Besides Lesnar and Del Rio, if Bellator can secure quality free agent fighters in addition to “brand name” talent, it can continue to build toward competing with the UFC.
But seriously the entire sport of MMA is in fact a minor league.
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