Scott Scoker talks about his ‘fantastic’ meeting with Paul Daley at Bellator 200.
It looks like Paul Daley’s rocky relationship with Bellator is on the mend, as MMA Junkie’s Steven Marrocco reports that head promoter Scott Coker had a ‘fantastic’ meeting with the British knockout artist shortly after Bellator 200 concluded last month.
Daley had been extremely vocal about his desire to leave Bellator but, according to Coker, ‘Semtex’ will now look to sign a six-fight deal with the fight promotion, claiming that the former UFC and Strikeforce welterweight contender is always welcome on Bellator’s roster.
“Paul’s a fighter that I’ve always believed in, and he’s always delivered,” Coker said in a recent interview. “That’s the kind of fighter that will be welcome on Bellator’s roster any time.”
Daley, an MMA veteran of almost fifteen years, went on an expletive-laden, in-cage rant during the third and final round of his lackluster fight with Jon Fitch at Bellator 199, shouting ‘f-ck Bellator’ to the commentary team.
Coker, the former CEO of Strikeforce, said Daley apologized in the meeting and is working with his management to get more kickboxing bouts under the Bellator banner.
“I said let me talk to (your manager), and let’s get on the same page,” Coker said. “Let’s work it out. That’s where we left it.”
Daley is also interested in a grudge match with British rival Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who outclassed David Rickels at Bellator 200 and mocked Daley in a post-fight media scrum.
Coker, a former movie stuntman, said Bellator will ‘definitely’ book the fight if both fighters are on the same page.
“He said he would fight him any time we wanted to,” Coker said. “If they both want to do this fight, we will definitely do it.”
