Scott Coker on Bellator NYC: this is the best MMA PPV that’s been offered in 2017

On June 24, Bellator MMA will host just the second pay-per-view of its already illustrious history. This pay-per-view, which will broadcast live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, is aptly named “Bellator NYC.”

Bellator NYC will be headlined by a light heavyweight grudge match between three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen and Pride legend Wanderlei Silva. The co-headliner, meanwhile, will pit heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko against UFC veteran Matt Mitrione in a bout that was originally scheduled for January of this year. It will also feature two title fights: one at lightweight, where champ Michael Chandler will take on Brent Primus, and another at welterweight, where champ Douglas Lima will battle Lorenz Larkin.

Needless to say, this is a pretty amazing card for the ever-entertaining promotion. According to Bellator president Scott Coker, it is the best MMA pay-per-view of 2017 thus far. Coker sang the card’s praises in an interview with ESPN.

“The PPV business is tough and there’s a lot of competition in the marketplace,” Coker said. “There’s boxing fights around us, wrestling events, other MMA shows. But honestly, I think this is the best MMA PPV that’s been offered in 2017. I’m a fight fan and I always buy the big fights; I haven’t bought one of them this year. But this PPV, the way we’ve stacked it from top to bottom, is the best offering this year.”

Coker then discussed projected PPV sales, and offered up the promotion’s target:

“When you say expectations, it’s something I think we’re going to feel,” Coker said. “To me, any [buy rate] in the mid-200,000s would be respectable. And anything in the 300,000s would be considered a big hit.

However Bellator MMA sells, Coker assured that it will not be the promotion’s last pay-per-view.

“This is not something we’re going to go in and out of,” he said. “This is something we’re committed to. The company is committed to doing PPV fights.”

Will you be watching Bellator NYC on June 24?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/7/2017.