Bellator 232: Scott Coker talks superfights, big-name bookings and a possible future on CBS

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – With his promotion in good health and seemingly increasing in stature month to month, Bellator president Scott Coker is a busy man. But he was happy to feed the assembled media a few tidbits of information about some of his big stars and upcoming plans during the post-fight press conference at Bellator 232.

Coker fielded an array of questions about a host of his promotion’s stars, plus one notable name not currently on the Bellator roster, as he revealed his plans for a number of his big-name athletes in the coming months.

Let’s take a run through the key takeaways from Coker’s press conference comments:

‘The Gooch’ is coming back to the U.S.

Two-promotion bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi is all set for action for Rizin FF on New Year’s Eve, but Coker said he hopes to get the Japanese star – and current Bellator 135-pound champion – into the Bellator cage early in 2020.

“When he defends his belt, it’s going to be here,” he said. “And probably some time in the second quarter, or actually the first quarter, of next year, because I found out the Rizin schedule. They’re not going to do a promotion until April. He’s going to fight on New Year’s Eve and maybe in February we’ll get him to fight for us, here in the U.S.”

Sergio Pettis will fight at bantamweight

Coker said that Bellator’s newest signing, former UFC flyweight contender Sergio Pettis, will compete at 135 pounds, though he hasn’t locked in an opponent for the Milwaukee fighter just yet.

“We have a 135-pound weight class, and I think that’s what we agreed upon,” he said. “I’ll have to confirm that with Rich (Chou, Bellator matchmaker) and the guys, but that’s what I believe.”

And when Leandro Higo was floated by one media member as someone who has already offered to face Pettis first, Coker looked intrigued.

“That’s something that I’m not going to commit to, that fight,” he said. “It’s definitely something that could be on the table, but there’s a lot of good fights in that weight class now. We’re beefing up that 135-pound weight class, and we’re going to mix it up and pick the right fights when it’s time.”