Scott Coker and the world of martial arts share a bond like a pair of well-worn shoes. The shoes fit perfectly. It's hard to imagine the MMA landscape without Coker. His absence feels almost unnatural.
So when Coker was not among the Bellator crew moving to the PFL after the recent sale, some eyebrows were raised. People started wondering why the head of Bellator didn't take action, or at least what his next move would mean.
Now, the veil has been lifted and Coker has revealed his decision to remain in the MMA realm with a brand new venture called Fight Night at the Tech. The event, scheduled to debut May 18 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., is a significant step forward for Coker. He will serve as executive producer and work closely with former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
Coker emphasized that the appeal of being his own boss again played a pivotal role in his choice not to join PFL.
In an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Coker expressed his enthusiasm for this new venture and the freedom it brings. For Coker, it's not just about staying in his MMA game, it's about charting his own path and shaping the future of the sport.
“To be honest, I thought about it. There was an opportunity there. But what I felt was, it's time to go. It's time for me to become an entrepreneur myself. That's what I like most. I worked for Viacom and Paramount for nine years (as president of Bellator). It was a great challenge. I'm glad I did it. Paramount has been very good to me. I learned a lot there. But I'm an entrepreneur at heart. This is the first job I've had as an adult (working for someone other than myself).”
After Bellator was acquired by the PFL, many fighters migrated to the new promotion, along with certain executives and staff. However, some chose a different direction, either of their own free will or because they were not bound by the PFL.
Coker's tenure as the face of Bellator ran from June 2014 until the completion of the PFL acquisition in November 2023. Before leading Bellator, Coker served as CEO of Strikeforce, which he founded in 1985. The promotion was acquired by the UFC in 2014. 2011.
Despite his deep ties to Bellator's success, Coker had long been preparing for the possibility of the promotion being sold and was well aware of the direction he would pursue in such a scenario. .
“I worked hard. I think we built great value in that company. “When Strikeforce was built, it had value. There were people who wanted to come and buy it. It was worth it when I bought it. There were people who wanted to buy it. This is natural in business. But I always told myself that one day when I sold my company, I would go back and become an entrepreneur. .That’s what I really wanted to do.”
