One person who is happy about France now allowing MMA events is Bellator MMA President Scott Coker, who issued the following statement on the matter (via MMA Junkie):
?Bellator welcomes France?s decision to move towards the regulation of professional MMA. We also welcome the decision of the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, to make the French Boxing Federation (FFB) the governing body of professional MMA, and await with interest the upcoming opinion of the National Olympic Committee. Given their successful and longstanding track-record with boxing, we believe the French Boxing Federation are well suited to oversee the sport and we will be pleased to work with them towards MMA?s continued growth, development, safety and regulation throughout the country,? he said. ?We look forward to hosting Bellator events in France, bringing fans incredible shows featuring some of the best athletes in the world.?
Bellator MMA has expanded their reach overseas in recent years with the European Series, which returns next month with Bellator Dublin.
There is no word yet when Bellator MMA will debut in the country of France, but one would think that the promotions most popular French fighter in Cheick Kongo will get a spot on that card.