Rich Chou: The sport needs something different

Rich Chou has been matchmaking for over a decade, first with BJ Penn’s Rumble on the Rock, then with Elite XC, followed by Strikeforce, and now with Bellator MMA. In an interview with Steven Marrocco for MMAjunkie, Chou said MMA needs something different, and Scott Coker is the cure.

I feel like the sport has stalled a little bit, and just overall, I don’t think we’re seeing the growth that we all anticipated, said Chou. I feel like this sport needs something different, and that’s what Scott is.

Bellator’s biggest match ups have been criticized by some in the hardcore fanbase. Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar has an explicitly pro wrestling run up. Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock is not the peak of MMA technique. But Chou argues that it is revitalizing the sport.

That’s what makes it exciting, said Chou. (Coker is) always looking to change the game and come up with new ideas. I feel like this is a great situation where you’ve got Scott with the freedom and flexibility to come up with new ideas and (Spike pres) Kevin Kay and the rest of the Spike people and Viacom are willing to support him.

I think some people are too tied to a system and a structure. Those don’t exist with Scott. Whatever will thrill the fans, whatever will take us to the next level, is an option, and let’s discuss.

For some people, it’s here’s a pecking order and a ladder system and we follow it and we don’t deviate from it. But Scott doesn’t necessarily believe in that. It’s, ‘Wait a minute. Let’s take another look at it. What do the fans want?’

The brainstorming sessions are pretty epic.”

If you were having a Noah’s bagel with Rich and Scott, and they asked you for some fan-friendly matchups, what would you suggest?

Kimbo Slice vs. Fedor Emelianenko on New Years Eve?