Bellator MMA President Scott Coker has detailed why his promotion permits fighters to self-source sponsors for his or her struggle shorts.
Whereas the much-debated fighter pay dialogue continues to exist on the high of the combined martial arts floor, discuss in regards to the allowance of struggle gear sponsors has remained one which’s break up opinion.
Though the likes of heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou have criticized the UFC for stopping athletes from donning sponsors on their gear ever for the reason that begin of its unique partnership with Reebok, Chael Sonnen just lately defended the promotion.
Based on “The American Gangster,” the previous leniency was an pointless degree of generosity from the UFC, which has now created a false impression about what’s the norm.
One group the place the controversy isn’t wanted, although, is Bellator. When preventing beneath its banner, athletes are free to supply and put on sponsors on their shorts.
I’ve just a few locations left for sponsors on my shorts for my subsequent struggle at Bellator Dublin. Message me for information pic.twitter.com/fa22RuGEiz — Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) September 2, 2019
And for the promotion’s chief, the choice to permit members of the roster to take action is just about a no brainer.
Coker Follows “Let Them Make Their Cash” Mindset
Throughout an interview on The MMA Hour with reporter Ariel Helwani, who has lengthy spoken out towards the UFC and PFL for stopping quick sponsors, Coker defined why Bellator adopts a unique coverage to different main North American promotions.
Acknowledging the longevity, or lack of, in terms of a profession in preventing, the 60-year-old former Strikeforce CEO instructed that there’s no cause for him to stifle athletes’ earnings throughout their days within the sport.
“Principally, these guys are in a scenario the place they’ll make their cash over a certain quantity of years. So, to me, allow them to make their cash,” Coker mentioned. “It’s the identical cause why we let fighters go struggle in bare-knuckle preventing, or fighters go struggle in Rizin. Look, in case you have a possibility, come and we’ll sit down and discuss it. If it is sensible, then let’s do it.
“The sponsors for fighters, to me, that’s a small ask… it does look old style, and you recognize what? I’m effective with it. I believe it seems to be prefer it was presupposed to again within the day. So, to me, I don’t have an issue with it,” Coker added. “They’ve somewhat extra freedom right here possibly than in different leagues.”
I perceive that the game must look good with uniforms however we must always not less than have a proper for at least 2 accepted sponsors for within the octagon. — Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) August 17, 2022
As Coker talked about, the allowance of quick sponsors isn’t the one distinctive freedom Bellator gives its fighters. They’re additionally capable of compete outdoors the promotion’s banner ought to a logical alternative come up, as was the case with welterweight Michael Web page’s latest bare-knuckle boxing conflict with Mike Perry in BKFC.
This story initially appeared on MMANews.com. Please present transcription credit score with a hyperlink to this text when you use any of those quotes.