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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2014

Report: Bjorn Rebney Leaving Bellator, Scott Coker to Replacing Outgoing CEO

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney

By FCF Staff

Recently Bellator announced a significant change to its matchmaking format, and now the promotion has confirmed its undergoing a major shift at the executive level.

On Wednesday, Bellator’s parent company Viacom, announced that the promotion’s founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney, is stepping down. In addition, President and COO Tim Danaher is also leaving the organization.

“It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded,” Rebney relayed in a press release. “I have great pride in having turned my vision into reality, a thriving business with television distribution to over 140 countries around the world, a partnership with one of the world’s largest entertainment giants and wide array of sponsors, partners and strategic allies all over the globe. This has been a wonderful eight plus years of creation, development and success.  I will miss the courageous, strong and dedicated fighters I have had the pleasure of promoting, and equally, I will miss the incredibly hard working, remarkable team that has become a family for me over the years.

“Viacom and Tim and I differed in our views of the right strategic direction for Bellator, but Tim and I both wish them well.”

According to a follow up report from MMA Fighting.com, former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker, will be brought in to replace Rebney. Viacom, however, has not announced who will be Bellator’s new CEO.

Coker helped build Strikeforce into the sport’s second largest promotion, before it was eventually purchased by the UFC’s parent company ZUFFA in 2011. Strikeforce was eventually closed down in 2013. Coker remained with ZUFFA as an executive, but his contract reportedly ended several months ago.

Since Bellator began holding events in 2009, the promotion has grown to become one of the sport’s largest, and has broadcasting deals throughout the world.

Bellator 122 will be held July 25th.

 

 

posted by FCF Staff @ 11:26 am
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