HONOLULU – Scott Coker says late December 2019 is only the start.
Over the next eight days, the promotion will be holding three shows – two in Hawaii and one in Japan. The mini-tour marks the second stint Bellator has promoted in Hawaii and the first in Japan.
“I would personally like to grow it,” Coker told MMA Junkie on Friday after the ceremonial weigh-ins for Bellator 236 in Honolulu. “What I mean by that is, this event here, I love the fact that we have the USO Fight Night: Tribute for the Troops, Saturday we have Ilima-Lei (Macfarlane), and then we’re on our way to Japan.”
The Bellator president indicated this won’t be the last Hawaii-Asia tour. In fact, Coker said he thinks the tour will grow. The goal? Hold six shows in five weeks through Hawaii and Asia.
“As you guys know, on the 29th, the fight (is) in Saitama Super Arena,” Coker said. “It’s our first entry into Asia. But I’d like to grow there. To me, I’d like to have a little tour. From here, we’re going to go to Guam. Work our way to Tokyo, (South) Korea, China, and then maybe like a six-fight tour in five weeks. That would be something we’d be looking forward to.”
All of the locations Coker listed would be new territories for the promotion. While its main competitor the UFC has been to Japan, South Korea, and China, it has never held a show in Guam.
Bellator 235 (“Bellator and USO Present: Salute the Troops 2019″) takes place Friday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Bellator 236 takes place Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main card streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Scott Coker wants Bellator's Hawaii-Japan tour to expand to South Korea, China and Guam