Bellator President Scott Coker Reveals Big News Regarding Paige VanZant

Bellator Boss Scott Coker spoke to Mike Heck from MMA Fighting and touched upon several topics related to the company. The MMA organization is set to return to action after 5 months away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their rival organization, UFC, has monopolized the market in their absence.

Coker also touched upon a trending topic in the MMA community surrounding women’s MMA fighter Paige VanZant. ’12 Gauge’ VanZant most recently lost to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251 that took place on Yas Fight Island. The defeat comes at the most inopportune moment as she was up for free agency following the bout.

Scott Coker: “We definitely want to have a conversation with her”

The veteran promoter expressed a keen desire to sign VanZant despite her coming off a first-round loss. An added incentive to sign the popular fighter is her mainstream appeal and popularity. Not to mention, her husband Austin Vanderford is a 185-pound mainstay on the Bellator roster.

“I don’t think we’ve had a business conversation yet, we definitely had a chat with her husband and the management. We will definitely reach out here when she is back and settled. From what I heard, it wasn’t a very fun time over there (Abu Dhabi).”

Paige VanZant has had a mixed reception to her professional career as she has failed to contest for gold. Moreover, she has been unable to seal the deal in critical bouts during her tenure with the UFC. However, her star power inside and outside the cage is undeniable.

“Listen, do we want to be in the Paige VanZant business? We definitely want to have a conversation with her. I think she’s done a lot of great things for female MMA. If you look back at the history of Strikeforce, we were the number one organization to do it.

“We’re going to do our best to have a serious conversation with her in the near future.”

The Oregon native has revealed that she has many varied options when it comes to a career outside combat. Given the promise she has shown in her career, Bellator MMA could be a fruitful destination going forward.