Scott Coker With today’s passage of a bill legalizing MMA in New York, it’s not just the UFC ready to head to the “Empire State.” The Viacom-owned Bellator, the UFC’s biggest competitor, today said it already has been in touch with arenas in the state and is planning to hold events there once the bill is passed into law. “The New York Assembly’s vote to legalize MMA is a watershed moment for this incredible sport,” Bellator President Scott Coker stated. “As someone who has been promoting combat sports for more than 30 years, this is a very exciting time for mixed martial arts. We at Bellator MMA are very much looking forward to hosting an event in the ‘Crown Jewel of America,’ New York. “… We’ve already been in contact with the great people at the Barclays Center and several other incredible venues, and we can’t wait bring our world-class athletes and action-packed shows to an arena in the ‘Empire State’ soon.” Just like the UFC, Bellator has athletes on its roster who hail from the state, but haven’t been able to fight there in front of their home fans with the sport being banned.
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