Scott Coker is the president of Bellator MMA and just saw the promotion make a successful return to pay-per-view with Bellator 180.
The Bellator MMA President used to be an employee of the UFC and when it comes to the promotions deal with Reebok, the Bellator MMA kingpin is still baffled.
“Listen, they’re independent contractors. How they’re forced to wear a uniform, to this day, still baffles me,” Coker said on The MMA Hour. “It should be against the labor laws or something, because you have to wear this sponsor thing? You have to wear this certain uniform when you fight? To me, they’re independent contractors. They should go out and get whatever sponsors they want, and if Ryan Bader or whoever went out and made a million dollars in sponsorship, good for you. We don’t touch any of that.”
While Coker was employed by the UFC, he wasn’t there when the UFC signed the deal with Reebok.
Coker also wants MMA fans to know that a deal with the one between the UFC and Reebok will never happen with Bellator MMA.
“We’re not going to do that,” Coker said. “(When you say the tax hurt smaller companies,) that is the truth. You are speaking the truth right there. That’s gospel right there.”
Bellator 181 is the next time fans will get a glimpse of Coker, as that event takes place on Friday, July 14.
