S. Coker (photo) is the CEO of Bellator. Photo: Disclosure
Scott Coker, president of Bellator, revealed that he has been approached by several MMA fighters and businesspeople after the announcement of details regarding Reebok's sponsorship with the UFC.
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The sporting goods supplier will produce mandatory uniforms for all fighters participating in its events, with payments per fight ranging from US$2,5 to US$40 depending on the number of fights the athlete has already had in the organization. This has led to numerous complaints from athletes who have reported major financial losses when the policy comes into effect mid-year.
In an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”, Coker revealed that many athletes approached him to find out how the sponsorship scheme works at Bellator.
“I'll tell you my phone is ringing. I tell people that I will only talk when she is free from any contract. When you're free, then call me. I have received calls from businesspeople and fighters asking about our sponsorship policy. But my phone is ringing,” said the manager.
Despite being the leader of the UFC's main rival, Coker showed that he understands the attitude taken by the organization. “I think people need to understand that this is a business that everyone is trying to run. The UFC is a business, Bellator is a business. Both organizations are businesses, just like the fighters, who also do business and are brands. For fighters, it seems like a hard thing to swallow, but at the end of the day, the UFC did what it had to do,” he said.
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