Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker

By FCF Staff

Bellator has confirmed, as expected, that former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker will be leading the promotion.

On Wednesday, Bellator announced that founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney, as well as President Tim Danaher were stepping down. In a follow up announcement, the promotion has confirmed that Coker is the promotion’s new president.

A press release from Bellator and broadcast partner SPIKE relayed:

Veteran combat sports promoter Scott Coker has been named President, Bellator MMA, effective immediately.  The announcement was made today by Kevin Kay, Spike TV President, to whom he will report. In his new position, Coker, will oversee the day-to-day management of the emerging mixed martial arts franchise. Coker was Founder and former CEO of Strikeforce, which began in 1985 as a kickboxing league and developed into an MMA league in 2006.

“We are excited to have Scott Coker lead us in a new direction as we evolve the league format from a tournament-based organization to a more traditional model with big fights,” said Kay

Coker helped build Strikeforce into one of the world’s leading MMA promotions, before it was bought out by UFC parent company ZUFFA in 2011.