Coker: Slice won’t be opponent for Fedor
One person who definitely won’t be the first opponent for the return of Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko is Kimbo Slice, at least according to Scott Coker.
Fedor Emelianenko is set to return to professional MMA this New Year’s Eve in Japan, but an opponent has not yet been announced. One person it won’t be, at least according to UFC President Scott Coker, is Kimbo Slice:
“No, no. Kimbo is a Bellator fighter,” Coker said. “We have other plans for Kimbo.”
Slice (5-2) propelled Bellator to its biggest ever ratings when he returned from a five-year MMA layoff and knocked out Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138. The broadcast peaked at an impressive 2.1 million viewers during the catchweight bout, which saw Slice brutally dispatch Shamrock after surviving a near-submission in the fight’s early stages.
Emelianenko is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in the sport. His return is tentatively slated for Dec. 31 under the banner of an unnamed Japanese organization led by former Pride FC boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
The card will air on tape delay on Spike TV, and it’s possible the event may feature several Bellator fighters due to both promotions’ relationships with Viacom.
But according to Coker, Slice is a Bellator exclusive who should be in store for a big 2016 campaign.
“We’re going to fight [Slice] early next year,” Coker said. “And I think next year, you’re going to see Kimbo Slice fight three times in Bellator.”