Scott Coker confirmed on Wednesday that the grand prix format will continue in Bellator — and a lower weight class is up next.
New York, NY — Big things are coming for Bellator, and the grand prix tournament format will continue. On Wednesday’s media day ahead of Bellator 215 and 216 this weekend, hosted in New York City, Scott Coker hinted at the next grand prix for the promotion.
“Absolutely, for sure,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press when asked if the Grand Prix format would return. “I won’t tell you what weight, but you guys have probably figured it out. Think smaller. That’s all.”
Coker, who joined Bellator as CEO in 2014 after founder Bjorn Rebney was ousted, went on to give his take on the format. “Listen, tournaments work. The heavyweight tournament proved that,” he suggested. “The single elimination tournament, that’s really what martial arts was based off of. When I grew up doing martial arts, you went to a karate tournament, and you’d just fight all day until there was nobody left. Wrestling, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, Olympics, it’s the same thing, it’s a single elimination, sudden death type of event.”
“It really works, it’s a great piece of business for Paramount for the heavyweight tournament, and the welterweights doing extremely well,” he continued. “We’re going to continue at least once a year, doing one weight class.”
What weight class might that be? Featherweight remains a strong candidate, as the promotion has a wealth of talent in the division.
For more from Scott Coker, watch the full Bellator 215 & 216 press scrum above.
