UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator president Scott Coker has heard Claressa Shields’ comments about potentially moving into MMA and says the possibility may be there for the two-time Olympic gold medalist to do it with Bellator.
Women’s boxing superstar Shields went public this week about her frustration with the sport of women’s boxing and suggested that she may switch codes and compete in mixed martial arts in the future.
When that possibility was put to Coker at the Bellator 232 post-fight press conference, the Bellator boss said there would be hurdles to get over, but he wasn’t opposed to the possibility of Shields competing inside the Bellator cage in 2020.
“We don’t have a fight for her at 160 (pounds), because the top of our weight classes is 145,” Coker explained. “But if she wants to come down, maybe we can have her compete. Or if some of the girls want to go up and fight, then maybe we could fight her.”
Despite the fact that Bellator doesn’t have the weight class to sustain a lengthy MMA career and potential world title opportunity for Shields, Coker did say he could make things work to allow Shields to compete on the big stage in specially arranged superfights, as he has done before.
“To me, it’s not our core business, fighting at 160 pounds,” he said. “But, just like with Keri (Melendez) and just like with Ava (Knight), if it makes sense and we (can) put her in some superfights, let’s do it. I’m not afraid to do that.”
Claressa Shields in the Bellator cage? Scott Coker says 'Let's do it'
