Bellator president Scott Coker recently said that he was unsure about the overall wisdom that went into the decision of having Conor McGregor fight Floyd Mayweather in the upcoming boxing match that we’re all so eagerly awaiting. While, yes he understands why they would do the fight, to make money (his words) he also seems to think that that the long-term for McGregor and the UFC because of that fight might turn out be not quite as good as it once was. Who knows?
Here’s his full take on it.
“Obviously, it’s gonna be a big money maker for everybody and that’s why they’re doing it,” Coker told MMA Fighting. “But you’re putting your fighter in harm’s way, so what’s the long term impact on that? I’m not sure. But I’ll tell you this: It’ll be a lot of fun to watch.”
Just a few days earlier, here’s what Dana White had say on a very similar matter:
“Absolutely not,” White said. “At the end of the day, these two guys wanted this fight, the fans wanted this fight, and Conor is a mixed martial artist going into a boxing match with arguably the greatest boxer of all time. I don’t think it damages the brand or Conor McGregor at all, I think it actually elevates Conor McGregor. The fact that this kid who has so much to lose is willing to step in and is absolutely confident that he will win this fight, I think is one of the many reasons that people love Conor McGregor and win, lose or draw it will be one of the reasons that people continue to love Conor McGregor.”
“How could it be?” Coker said. “I think the people that are gonna watch it, the people that are gonna buy it, they know what it is. It’s gonna be a great spectacle and a lot of great promotion going back and forth. I think Mayweather is a fighter that even Canelo couldn’t even hit or event Pacquiao couldn’t even hit. So, I think Conor has his hands full. But you never know in a fight, right? Who knows? Sometimes someone can get lucky.”
Dana again:
“Is he at the level of a Floyd Mayweather as far as boxing standards go?” White said. “No, but the kid, first of all, is a southpaw and people can argue one way or the other but Floyd, traditionally, if you want to say there’s ever been a kink in the armor with that kid, it’s with southpaws. And Conor McGregor is an absolute knockout artist. When he hits you, you go. So it’s part of the fun of this fight, is Conor McGregor, in a 12-round fight, gonna be able to touch Floyd Mayweather?”
“This fight is happening because everybody on the business side knows that it makes sense,” said Coker, who is promoting his own big fight card June 24 at Madison Square Garden, dubbed Bellator NYC. “There are other fighters in MMA that feel like they might have that kind of drawing power, but maybe they really don’t. I think it’ll be quickly unmasked. Either people care or they don’t and that’s what it really comes down to for me when it comes to fights.”
“Any time Mayweather fights, the circus is in town, man,” Coker said. “It’s gonna be a big, big promotion. And Conor he can carry his own on the mic. The whole campaign leading up to the event is gonna be more entertaining than the fight.”
“I can’t wait to see it,” Coker said. “I want to see it. I’m gonna fly there and watch it live.”
Either way I agree with Scott 100% on the part about flying out there and watching it live, no matter who wins or loses… It’s gonna be LIT!
