Scott Coker hints at Bellator partnership with PFL

For the past few months, reports have circulated about the potential purchase of Bellator by another promotion. The most frequently mentioned buyer was PFL. Fuel was added to the fire when UFC president Dana White stated that PFL had raised $280m to purchase Bellator.

Bellator president Scott Coker addressed the rumours in a media scrum after the Bellator 297 weigh-ins. When asked if there was any truth to the speculation, Coker stated, “We’ve been out there. Bellator has been looking to take a partner. That’s really been Viacom that’s been handling that. So, we’ll see where that nets out. We’ll probably have some clarity in the next 60 to 90 days.”

“[PFL] is definitely in the conversation,” he said, when pushed further on the matter. “There’s a couple conversations going on right now with Viacom and other companies. PFL is definitely one of them.”

Coker is no stranger to collaborating with other organisations. In his days as the head of Strikeforce, Coker inked deals with M-1 Global and DREAM to co-promote events. He has carried out similar collaborations with Bellator, regularly carrying out crossover events with RIZIN. A merger with PFL certainly wouldn’t out of the question, given his track record.

It is still unclear if PFL are planning an acquisition or merger of the companies. The latter would create the strongest US-based promotion outside of the UFC, boasting a combined roster to rival that of the MMA leader. Only time will tell if this is the route they will pursue. For now, however, it is one of the most exciting stories in MMA.

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