Scott Coker: Bellator valuation goes up with UFC sale

In the wake of UFC 200, it was announced that the Fertitta brothers had sold the UFC for $4 billion to WME-IMG.

With the sale, it was announced that UFC President Dana White would be staying on board, and even taking on a bigger role within the promotion.

While the general consensus is that the MMA community applauds the Fertitta brothers for selling the promotion for $4 billion after buying the promotion for just a few million, Bellator MMA President Scott Coker says that the sale is actually good for the entire MMA community.

He spoke to MMAJunkie:

“I was really excited, because for our sport, what a great accomplishment. It gives MMA the respectability and credibility that MMA is a real sport, and that MMA has a future. And if you’re investing in MMA, it’s a good vehicle to invest, because there’s an end strategy. They proved it.”

“It’s just like when the (Los Angeles) Clippers got bought,” he said. “What happened to the team’s values? Everything goes up. I told everybody, we should be celebrating with (UFC Chairman) Lorenzo (Fertitta) and (UFC President) Dana (White), popping champagne with them, because our valuation just went up, boys.”